Faculty

In which online degree program(s) do you teach?

BS in Strategic Communication with an emphasis in Social Media Management

Which classes do you teach online?

Social Media in Strategic Communication, Communication Law and Ethics.

Why did you start teaching?

I love every aspect of the college teaching profession: delivering the materials to students in a way they can understand, working with them one-on-one to develop career goals and getting to research topics that are of interest to me.

What's the best advice that you ever received?

Don't become a lawyer. You're too sweet.

What's the best advice that you could give your students?

Give yourself every chance to succeed. Be accountable for assignments. Get a planner or app on your phone to remind you of due dates. Find quiet places to concentrate and do work. And don't be afraid to ask for help.

What is the one book you think everyone should read?

"Sense and Sensibility" by Jane Austen.

What qualities make someone particularly successful in the area in which you teach?

Flexibility and an open mind! The social media area changes so rapidly, it's easy to get whiplash trying to keep up. So, you have to find reliable, up-to-date resources and network with early adopters to stay on trend.

What do you think is the biggest challenge that people in communication face today?

Social media has completely changed how public relations professionals do their jobs. The "public" is once more a large part of the equation. Everyone has a voice and social media channels are "on" 24/7. The engagement is constant. And the PR and advertising industries are clamoring for professionals who can use social media strategically.

Tell us something your students may not know about you:

I received two grants which allowed me to conduct interviews in London, England, in May 2012 for a research project on "super-injunctions" and Twitter. I interviewed the legal editor for the Guardian, a law professor at Queen Mary University of London, a Member of Parliament (MP) and a libel and privacy attorney known for his involvement in many high profile defamation actions in the UK, Ireland and the US. The interviews were featured in an article published in Communication Law and Policy.