INDIANA UNIVERSITY
Associate/Assistant Professor of Public Relations
The Media School
MSCH-C 205 – Media Law & Ethics
This lecture-based course introduces students to the communication law and ethics as they apply across various media forms. Major areas of coursework include First Amendment protections, political speech, commercial speech, regulating expression, intellectual property, libel, privacy, utilitarianism, deontology, social contract theory, virtue ethics, and care ethics.
MSCH-C 208 – Principles of Public Relations
This lecture-based course introduces students to the broad practice of public relations. Major areas of coursework included theories of practice, approaches to persuasion, research methods, audience analysis and segmentation, budgeting, media relations, campaign planning, persuasive writing, crisis communication, image restoration, and legal and ethical considerations of the practice.
MSCH-R 349 – Public Relations Writing
This course focused on foundational elements of persuasive writing and AP style. Major assignments for this course included AP style quizzes as well as several writing exercises meant to establish mastery in the areas of print, multichannel, interactive, and face-to-face communication. The class met twice a week, with class periods alternating between lectures on PR writing tactics and 'coached,' in-class writing.
MSCH-R 429 – Public Relations Campaigns
In this course, students are divided into two groups of nine. With the help of IU's service-learning department, each team works with a real-world client, working to achieve that client's goals through a comprehensive communication plan. Students operate largely as independent 'agencies' and I operate as a guide, helping them with issues that may arise. We stress elements of audience and market research, strategic planning, tactical implementation, and of course strong writing.
MSCH-R 501 – Introduction to Strategic Communication
This graduate seminar enrolls students from IU's Media School M.A., M.S., and Ph.D. programs. As an introductory course, we broadly discuss the theory and practice of marketing, public relations, and advertising, as well as the integrated role of strategic communication across a variety of subdisciplines, such as social responsibility and ethics; relationship and reputation management; health, risk, and crisis communication; science and environmental communication; and sport communication. Students lead weekly discussions based on peer response papers, and each student is required to complete a rigorous research paper or professional project in lieu of a final exam.
MSCH-M 500 – Epistemologies of Media
This graduate seminar enrolls students from IU's Media School, and more specifically is required for Ph.D. students. As an introductory course, we broadly discuss various approaches to the study of media. Faculty from across the school join the class as guest speakers to elucidate their views on topics or keywords with which they demonstrate expertise. Drawing from these visits, as well as various readings, students work to articulate their own programs of study and begin developing several research streams that will guide them throughout their academic careers.
MSCH-H 110 – Freshman Honors Seminar
Each year, The Media School welcomes a freshman class of Ernie Pyle Scholars pursuing BAJ degrees, concentrating studies in either journalism or public relations. For each cohort, a faculty mentor is chosen to onboard the honors students during a first-semester seminar course and serve as a mentor to the students throughout their time here at Indiana University. I was fortunate enough to fulfill this role for our EPS graduating class of 2025.
MSCH-H 462 – Ernie Pyle Scholars Capstone
Each year, The Media School welcomes a freshman class of Ernie Pyle Scholars pursuing BAJ degrees, concentrating studies in either journalism or public relations. For each cohort, a faculty mentor serves as a mentor to the students throughout their time here at Indiana University. I was fortunate enough to fulfill this role for our EPS graduating class of 2025. This capstone course marks the final time the cohort will gather together in a classroom. Topics vary, but each section culminates with a significant research project.
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
Teaching Assistant
Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication
ADPR 5920 – Public Relations Communication
Taught weekly 200 minute writing lab sessions focused on elements of persuasive writing and AP style. Lectured on media relations, graded assignments, and 'coached' students during in-class writing time.
ADPR 3850 – Introduction to Public Relations
Guest Lectured two 75 minute sessions of the 200+ person course, focusing on the topics of public opinion, persuasion, PR ethics, and communication law.
ADPR 5950 – Public Relations Campaigns
Mentored students and assisted them in producing a viable strategic communication campaign for a real-world media client.
JRLC 5040 – Communication Law
This course focused on the key First Amendment principles that serve as the foundation for communication law. Major areas of coursework include political communication, defamation, privacy law, intellectual property, and obscenity – among others.
ADPR 3150 – Lecture Series
This course exposed students to various modes of communication practice by bringing in weekly guest lecturers from across the country to discuss key aspects of the general profession.
UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE
Lecturer
Department of Communication
COMM 347 – Introduction to Public Relations
This course introduced students to the broad practice of public relations. Major areas of coursework included theories of practice, approaches to persuasion, research methods, audience analysis and segmentation, budgeting, media relations, campaign planning, persuasive writing, crisis communication, image restoration, and legal and ethical considerations of the practice.
COMM 348 – Public Relations Writing
This course focused on foundational elements of persuasive writing and AP style. Major assignments for this course included AP style quizzes as well as several writing exercises meant to establish mastery in the areas of print, broadcast, online, and face-to-face communication.
COMM 412 – Communication Criticism
This course examined several influential communication theories, particularly those in the post-positivist tradition. Major areas of coursework were split into three broad sections: media effects (e.g., agenda setting), message response (e.g., uses and gratifications), and methods of persuasion (e.g., elaboration likelihood model).
COMM 435 – Media, Culture, and Society
This course investigated several media effects theories as a means to understand the interplay between media and culture and the subsequent effect on societal forces. The major course goal was to examine the role media have in relation to specific aspects of the human experience, such as politics, violence, sexuality, and entertainment.