What drew you to the study of Communication?
I was drawn to study communication as an undergraduate initially through my involvement in my university's speech and debate team. Additionally, I was excited by the flexibility the degree offered and the different career opportunities available to me.
What is your research area?
I study family and interpersonal communication. In my current research, I am trying to understand how families collaboratively communicate acceptance in the midst of significant religious and/or political disagreement. I'm trying to understand these experiences from both children's and parents' perspective with the goal of developing content for infographics, workshops, and other community-based opportunities.
What classes do you teach?
For the past two years, I have helped teach the senior Capstone course, COMM 495. In this class, students complete individual research projects over the course of the semester and present their findings at the end. I love teaching this course for several reasons. It's so exciting to come alongside students as they are discovering the importance of research and pursuing issues that they are so curious and passionate about. Additionally, it gives me the opportunity to work one-on-one and get to know our amazing students more personally. Other than Capstone, I have also taught COMM 101, COMM 286, and COMM 283.
How do your classes help prepare students for success after graduation?
I really believe that the skills you exercise in our classes are ones that translate so well to many different contexts. Clear written and oral communication skills, the ability to work well in teams and relate to others, and an understanding of how to analyze, summarize, and conduct research are amazing skills that many employers want.
What do you enjoy most about teaching undergraduate students?
My undergraduate years really were some of the most transformative ones of my life, and that's thanks to some amazing instructors and mentors that I had who were always available to provide a listening ear and support when I needed them. It has been such an honor to return the favor in some small way. It's scary and overwhelming to be figuring life out at this point in time, but also so exciting because of all of the opportunities that are open to you right now. I love being able to be on the sidelines, cheering you on, and doing what I can to help. I also love watching my students succeed and exceed their own expectations.
What are your favorite assignments?
My favorite assignments are ones that provide space for students to pursue topics that they are individually interested in. The main Capstone research project is a great example of this. Is it hard work? Absolutely! But it's also an amazing project to dive into a subject or issue that you are genuinely curious about and want to spend a lot of time learning about.
What advice would you give to undergraduate students taking one of your classes?
Come talk to me! I would love to get to know you more and know more about how I can best help you succeed in my class.