Academic History

Professional Experience

Associate Professor. July 2015-present. Department of Applied Communication Studies, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Assistant Professor. August 2009-June 2015. Department of Applied Communication Studies (Formerly Speech Communication), Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Freelance Curriculum Designer. January 2007-June 2014. McGraw-Hill.

Administrative Experience

Assistant Department Chair

Department of Applied Communication Studies | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

April 2016 to present

  • Coordinate student management with the Dean’s office
  • Assist in class scheduling and related logistics
  • Attend and participate in college-level budget meetings
  • Update and maintain department operating papers
  • Complete administrative special projects as requested
  • Serve as Department Chair when chair is unavailable

Director of the Basic Course and TA Director

Department of Applied Communication Studies | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

July 2014 to June 2018

  • Oversaw the basic course
  • Developed (with A. Alexander) and updated the standardized basic course packet used by all ACS 101 instructors
  • Designed and manage hybrid ACS 101: Public Speaking (~1200 students/year)
  • Created Instructor Course Packet for all ACS 101 instructors
  • Modified and updated the Graduate Teaching Assistant Training Manual
  • Recruited, hired, and trained Graduate Teaching Assistants

Graduate Director

Department of Applied Communication Studies (Formerly Speech Communication) | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

May 2010 to July 2014

  • Recruited and advised graduate students
  • Revised graduate policies and curriculum to improve program rigor
  • Modified exit rubrics to better assess program learning objectives and determine course of action if objectives are not met
  • Developed a Graduate Policies and Procedures Handbook for consistency in graduate student practices
  • Responsible for yearly assessment and performance reports, including assessing impact of programmatic changes, monitoring enrollment trends, and identifying areas of continuous improvement

American Cancer Society/Scripps College of Communication Partnership Coordinator

Scripps College of Communication Studies | Ohio University

August 2008 to June 2009

  • Liaison between the American Cancer Society and Scripps College of Communication grantees
  • Processed and monitored funded American Cancer Society grant expenditures
  • Summarized grantee activity and fund expenditures to the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies

Education

Ph.D. Ohio University, June 2009

  • Communication Studies
  • Primary areas: Interpersonal Communication and Computer-Mediated Communication
  • Related areas: Organizational Communication and Leadership
  • Dissertation: Reconnecting with the Dead via Facebook: Examining Transcorporeal Communication as a Way to Maintain Relationships
  • Advisors: Dr. Laura Black and Dr. B. Scott Titsworth
  • Committee Members: Dr. Jennifer Bute and Dr. Jennifer Chabot

M.S. South Dakota State University, 2006

  • Communication Studies and Journalism
  • Thesis: Nonverbal Communication Behavior of Successful Leaders on NBC’s “The Apprentice 3”
  • Advisor: Dr. Laurie Haleta

B.S. South Dakota State University, 2004

  • Communication Studies and Theatre
  • Minor: Journalism
  • Magna Cum Laude