As part of my professional role, I support incoming students by helping them understand the academic requirements for their degree and guiding them through the process of selecting courses for their first semester, even before we meet face-to-face. In the linked presentation, I provide detailed information to help students make informed course choices during orientation. Through this work, I’ve learned that effective communication requires a balance: engaging, fast-paced video content is useful for capturing attention, while slower, more in-depth explanations are essential for unpacking complex ideas and ensuring true understanding.

In this book analysis presentation, I reflect on the book "Shop Class as Soulcraft" by Matthew B. Crawford which outlines the connections between education, meaningful work, and self-reliance in a rapidly changing world. This author asks readers to think about the acquisition of knowledge and the sense of honor and fulfillment that come - or doesn't come - from various types of work. Is higher education contributing to a fixation with credentialing? What happened to the social perceptions of the skilled trades since WWII and how has that impacted the decisions that millions of high school graduates make each year as they consider their educational and professional options? Has our obsession with technology and modernity impacted our ability to find meaning in our work and our lives? This book was one of my favorite assigned readings of my program and the presentation highlights the important ways that it has impacted by understanding of adult learning. 

A collaborative effort with the James Madison College Communications Department, this short and informative video explains a complicated process for incoming students. In an effort to move away from long text heavy communications, we designed a concise video to move students through this time sensitive process in a format that was easy to share on multiple platforms. The high watch rate was an indicator that students were watching the video and then engaging with the outlined process, and highlights my ability to work collaboratively with others to creatively reach students and develop effective communication. (Video credit: Jane Deacon, JMC Communications Director and Thanh Tran, Graphic Design Assistant)