Teaching Philosophy

As an instructor, I aim to provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary for future success. Accordingly, I teach using a mixture of lecture, discussion, and activities, and use current examples to illustrate where students may see the concepts we discuss in their own lives. While the courses I have taught differ in their subject matter and design, my goal of helping students become informed practitioners and consumers has remained constant.

A core goal of my teaching philosophy is providing students with tools that contribute to their future success, which is exemplified in my approach to teaching public relations research methods. Throughout the semester, students not only learn about qualitative and quantitative research in theory but also hone their skills by conducting in-depth background reports, focus groups, and surveys for fictional clients. I mentor my students at every stage of the process, guiding them through the intricacies of conducting research. This is shown in their final reports, which include their revised projects and final recommendations for their clients’ future public relations efforts. Research and learning are both incremental, so each project should build upon the previous one, something that is on full display in my approach to teaching this course. 

In all of my classes, it is important that students are able to connect course concepts with things they encounter in the real world. This goal is on full display in my approach to teaching ethics and professional responsibility. My students and I alternated leading weekly class discussions in this course, covering both textbook readings and relevant current events examples to highlight (un)ethical PR strategies during brand crises. Throughout the semester, we applied the PRSA Code of Ethics to multiple case studies to improve PR responses in times of crisis and discussed how PR responses have violated (or upheld) specific tenets of the code. For ethics, it is especially important to create a welcoming classroom environment. Thus, I strive to make sure everyone feels free to share their opinions while also respecting those of their peers.

My approach to teaching is shaped by everything I have learned from both my mentors and my students. As I continue to grow in my career, I know my teaching philosophy will evolve, shaped by my future teaching experiences, though my goal of helping my students succeed.

Courses Taught

Teaching Awards

Third Place | Promising Professors Award, Graduate Student Competition | Mass Communication and Society Division | Association for Education in Mass Communication and Journalism | August 2024

Julie Dodd Award for Graduate Student Teaching | University of Florida | Gainesville, FL | April 2024