Teaching

Teaching Philosophy

I approach teaching as a collaborative partnership built on curiosity, accountability, and mutual respect. My classroom is a place where students are encouraged to question assumptions, explore diverse perspectives, and develop their own voice as communicators and advocates.

Drawing on my background in both academic research and professional digital media strategy, I bridge theory and practice in ways that are immediately applicable. Students leave my courses with not only conceptual frameworks but also tangible skills — from writing and research to campaign planning and ethical decision-making.

I am committed to inclusive pedagogy, online course development, and mentoring students at all levels. I hold training in ethical research and have extensive experience developing and teaching hybrid and fully online courses.

Courses Taught

Undergraduate Courses

• Temple
  Advertising & Society

  Temple University: Spring 2026. This undergraduate course directs students to consider the merits and critiques of a variety of advertising practices and product categories from cultural, economic, and ethical perspectives.

• Temple
  Communicating Organizational Change

  Temple University: Fall 2025, Spring 2026. This undergraduate course teaches students how to analyze the forces that drive individuals, teams, and organizations to change, examining a range of theoretical concepts and practices of leading change in organizational, community, political, and global contexts.

• UF
  Internal Communications

  University of Florida: Spring 2025. This undergraduate course highlights the influential roles that communication managers play to address the issues, challenges, and opportunities facing internal stakeholders. It integrates theories, research insights, practices, as well as current issues and cases into a comprehensive guide for future internal communication managers and organizational leaders on how to communicate effectively with internal stakeholders, build beneficial relationships, and engage employees in the fast-changing business and media environment. This course was administered in an online asynchronous modality.

• UF
  Public Interest Communications

  University of Florida: Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025. This undergraduate course teaches students how to use strategic, science-based communications to effect positive social change. Public interest communication is a form of strategic communication through which organizations, causes, or movements take on specific communication objectives that have some benefit to society.

• PSU
  Research and Analytics (Comm 428D)

  Penn State, World Campus: Summer 2023. This online asynchronous undergraduate course explores methods and practices in the areas of research and analytics with a focus on understanding how customers perceive the organization, assessing communication materials, and tracking how website visitors experience an organization’s site. Research methods taught include surveys, interviews, and focus groups.

• PSU
  Search Engine Marketing (Comm 450A)

  Penn State: Spring 2023, Spring 2022, Fall 2021, Spring 2021. This undergraduate course provides hands-on experience with digital campaign management using the Stukent Mimic Pro search marketing simulator, the Unbounce landing page builder, the Google Ads platform, and the Google Ad Grants Online Marketing Challenge (OMC). Students acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to conduct a keyword and programmatic sponsored search campaign by completing simulated campaigns for real clients.

• PSU
  Mass Media & Society (Comm 100)

  Penn State, World Campus: Summer 2021. Mass Media and Society is a required overview course for undergraduates focusing on the interaction between mass media and society. By drawing from selected topics, the course pays particular attention to the social influences (e.g., economics, politics, technology, law and culture) that shape media messages.

• PSU
  Strategic Communications in a Global Environment (Comm 428)

  Penn State, World Campus: Fall 2020, Spring 2020. This undergraduate course provides students with a framework for applying public relations and advertising tools across media platforms, placing value on the nuances of intercultural communication.

• PSU
  Research Methods in Advertising and Public Relations (Comm 420)

  Penn State: Fall 2019, Spring 2019, Fall 2018. This required undergraduate course provides students with the tools to outline, execute and evaluate mass media research in public relations and advertising. The primary focus is on using applied research for advertising and public relations program and campaign management—planning, monitoring and evaluating.

Graduate Courses

• UF
  Mass Communication Teaching Seminar (MMC 6930)

  University of Florida: Spring 2025, Spring 2024. The purpose of this graduate course is to provide students within the PhD program with a solid teaching foundation. Students learn how to build a course from the syllabus to an individual lesson plan, using a hands-on format that allows them to apply what they are learning to tangible takeaways. This class also discusses broad themes of equity, culturally relevant teaching, student-focused pedagogy, and connecting with and elevating all students.

Pedagogical Approach

Collaboration & Active Learning

I design courses around collaborative projects, case analyses, and applied assignments that mirror real professional contexts. Students work in teams to simulate agency environments, complete client-facing campaigns, and present findings to external stakeholders.

Ethics & Advocacy Integration

Ethical reasoning is woven throughout my curricula — not reserved for a single lesson but embedded in every decision students make about communication strategy, message design, and audience engagement. I challenge students to think about who is served by their communication choices.

Online & Hybrid Pedagogy

I have extensive experience developing and facilitating online and hybrid courses. I hold training in best practices for online course design and am committed to creating equitable, accessible learning experiences regardless of format.

Mentorship & Student Support

I am committed to advising students on research opportunities, professional development, and career paths. I actively encourage students to engage with professional organizations like PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America) and to pursue internship and conference presentation opportunities. I welcome inquiries from prospective graduate students whose interests align with my research areas.