Associate professor
Department of Communication

Classes you teach:
Media, Communication and Society (Com. 2100); TV Program Analysis and Criticism (Com. 4618)

Favorite class you teach (and why):
I don’t really have a favorite; they’re both fun to teach.  I like Communication 2100 because it helps students to begin to see the role the media plays in their lives; the other class is also interesting because we spend all of our time talking about and dissecting television shows to better understand what they’re saying about us and our society. 

Areas of interest:
My interest is in media literacy, in helping people become more conscious media consumers so they are less influenced by the media and can counter the media’s influence.

My other interests focus on examining the narrative structure of television programs and how men are represented in the media.

Why you love to teach:
I like the interaction with the students. I like helping them develop a critical perspective. I find our college students very engaging and challenging, they have very interesting ideas. I’m constantly learning from them.

How to get the most out of academics:
First of all, students need to realize that they are responsible for their education — not their parents, not their teachers, but themselves.  Being in college is a new chapter in their life, and a quantum leap difference from high school. They should treat being a student in college as if it were their job; they need to go to class, study, and learn from their experiences.

What Mizzou students are like:
Mizzou has a wonderful group of students — they are bright, energetic, clever, engaging and teachable.

Advice for new students:
They need to get to know their faculty. This can be awkward for some students, but they have to assume an aggressive role in building this relationship. They need to go to class; they need to realize that this is an important time of their lives and they should take being a college student seriously!