Professorship

The University of Maryland at College Park

Department of Communication

Dr. Ollie L. Jefferson instructed one hundred and twenty students in public speaking credit course during the school year. Among Dr. Jefferson's contributions to the university was his enrollment in the "Do Good" Learning Community at the University of Maryland. Students that took part in the courses were able to become part of the expanding campus-wide social impact ecosystem. A social impact is a significant form of verbal and non-verbal communication used to advance society's development or organization. The goal of civic involvement is to foster awareness, skills, ethics, and the desire to improve the community. In addition to discussing issues in our communities, the classes also identified solutions to these issues in order to bring about social change. Dr. Jefferson provided extra support to the university by giving speeches both on campus and in the communication community. Speaking engagements in the communication community and campus-wide events like the Women's Studies Graduate Student Association Fourth Biennial Interventions Symposium were among Dr. Jefferson's extra contributions to the university. Engaging graduate students and faculty members in a research presentation and thought-provoking discussion about the nexus of race and gender was presented at the Black feminist gathering. 

Howard University

Cathy Hughes School of Communications Communications                                          

Department of Strategic, Legal, and Management Communication Communication                                 

Ollie L. Jefferson, Ph.D., designed and instructed credit courses in communication studies for Advanced Public Speaking and Principles of Speech. Throughout the semesters, she instructed approximately seventy undergraduate students in credit courses. The students learned techniques to improve their ability to communicate effectively in a variety of settings. These performance seminars, which were grounded in communication theory, could be used in a wide range of social and public speaking contexts. During the summer semesters, Dr. Jefferson was appointed faculty lead to design the course curriculum for graduate teaching assistants to instruct student-athletes enrolled in the Upward Bound Program. The goal of the program is to raise the proportion of participants who complete their postsecondary education and graduate. As part of her university community involvement, she successfully oversaw a nationwide conference for professionals, academics, and students to present posters and paper presentations. In addition, Dr. Jefferson was an invited guest lecturer in the mass communication course and contributed to the writing of the required textbook for the course. 

George Mason University

Department of Communication

Dr. Ollie L. Jefferson instructed ninety-six students in four hybrid courses during the semester. The courses offered videos, research activities, and online modules. The grading rubrics and evaluation criteria were available on the Blackboard learning site to help students organize their efforts to meet the requirements of assignments. The blended learning activities included interpersonal, intercultural, public speaking, and small-group communication skills.