As an educator, I believe it is my role to prepare students to be confident and engaged citizens in their communities and around the globe. I endeavor to instill values that foster strong leadership skills and an understanding that it is equally important to be a good person who inspires excellence in others as it is to excel at practical applications of school and work.

As an active practitioner and scholar in the field of communications, I have the opportunity to meld the two in the classroom; theory and practical application — the best of both worlds. I strive to create a dynamic environment that is welcoming to all levels of competency and geared toward unlocking the untapped potential of each learner. Students should leave my classroom with the knowledge and confidence to go forth and succeed in a global society. Lessons in my class are laced with examples of excellent leadership and activities to foster interpersonal skills that are highly valued in the professional world.

My teaching style is rooted in honesty and inclusion. When we are honest with one another, we challenge our own status quo, risk being vulnerable and are motivated to think critically, all of which enhance our ability to grow as individuals and as a group. By sharing my own successes and failures equally, I cultivate a classroom of learners who are open to feedback and resilient in the face of challenges.

Diverse learning styles and life experiences are attributes to be celebrated and incorporated into the classroom experience. On a given day, you may find my class up and about shouting complex ideas as we engage multiple senses in our learning process, listening to a lecture or collaborating on group work. Through constant evaluation and student feedback, together, we find the right mix as a classroom community. Through a balance of collaborative activities and independent work, the hosting of “flip days,” where students with specialized knowledge share a lesson with the class (and their professor!), students feel included, inspired and empowered to participate and learn.

One of the most memorable flip days occurred in my Advanced PR Writing for the Digital World class. The course includes a lesson about prominent international social media platforms, and I saw a great opportunity for the class to learn about WeChat, Weibo, KakaoTalk and VK from peers, since the class included students from China, South Korea, as well as one well-versed in Russian social media. I asked the students if they would be experts for the day and develop 5 minute lessons on their country’s primary social platforms. Through lecture and live demonstration, we had an inside perspective of the platforms and followed the presentations with poignant discussion regarding freedom of the press and digital media environments around the globe.

My transition from practitioner to professor was a natural progression in my quest to be an active participant in society. As a professor, I have the opportunity to reach and educate more people than I did in the professional business world, and teaching allows me to serve the greater good on a more impactful level. It was clear to me on my very first day that teaching is what I was meant to do.

My greatest thrill is watching a student’s reaction when they’ve conquered their scholastic demons or have landed their first job. My greatest hope is that my students develop into adept professionals and confident leaders who inspire others.