2023 HighlightsResearch:Dedicated to health communication, social networking, inclusivity, and identity formation research. Published in reputable journals on vaccine advertisement framing and vaccination campaigns. Explored topics like plus-size advertising and experiences of underrepresented women. Presented findings on eye condition representation on TikTok. Engaged in grant proposals for future projects.Teaching:Revamped Health Communication course, advised PRSSA chapter, and developed an event planning course sequence. Recognized as Faculty Advisor of the Year for PRSSA. Contributed to conferences on communication pedagogy.Service:Led IMC Connect! as event chair, attracting sponsors and guest speakers. Active involvement in departmental work, committees, and professional associations, including the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, Association for Marketing & Health Care Research, and PRSA Memphis.Courses Taught (2021 to present:)Undergraduate Courses:Introduction to Public Relations (IMC 391)Over three semesters, organized 39+ diverse guest speaker presentations in "Area of Focus Fridays."Public Relations Case Problems (IMC 492)Top 3 teams entered Page Case Study competition (2023).Public Relations Techniques (IMC 491)Restructured course: coordinated with ~36 internship supervisors for weekly internship requirement added in Fall 2022.Graduate Courses:Principles of Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC 501)Taught in person and online with condensed semester formats.Experiential Learning: Event Planning, Management, and PromotionCreated two-course sequence for theory and practical event planning experience.Health Care Marketing and Promotion in the Era of New Media (IMC 580-Special Topics)-Condensed online course in First Spring; adjusted based on student feedback in First Spring 2023.Excited for the upcoming academic endeavors and collaborations at the University of Mississippi!

IMC Connect! Conference Founder and ChairEstablished the IMC Connect! Conference in 2021 to foster collaboration between research and practice, elevating the national profile of the integrated marketing communications program within the School of Journalism and New Media.Successfully attracted approximately 42 high-profile speakers from renowned brands such as Amazon, Boeing, Carnival Cruise Line, Chick-fil-A, and more, spanning over three years.Extended invitations to researchers from esteemed academic institutions like The University of Florida, The Pennsylvania State University, and others, enhancing the scholarly discourse at the conference.Designed specialized graduate-level curriculum comprising two courses focused on experiential learning in event planning, management, and promotion, resulting in a student-led conference.Key ResponsibilitiesOrchestrate all facets of event planning, management, and promotion, including launching a dedicated website at imcconnect.com, speaker recruitment, agenda creation, ticketing, branding, social media engagement, and more.Devised a structured sponsorship framework that generated escalating revenues over three years, securing approximately $55,000 in monetary and in-kind contributions from both alumni and corporate sponsors.Cultivated relationships with 30+ sponsors, ensuring seamless execution of sponsorship obligations and guaranteeing their visibility across different sponsorship tiers.Introduced a ticketing system for external participants in 2024, broadening the conference's reach and impact.Notable outcomes include students securing coveted positions post-graduation, attributing their success to the practical experience gained through the conference.The IMC Connect! Conference was chosen as the host for the 2024 Southeast District Conference by the Public Relations Student Society of America.Leveraged project management tools such as Basecamp and Slack to streamline organizational processes effectively.

Chapter Achievements OverviewI founded this chapter alongside 12 students when I came to the University of Mississippi in Fall 2021. Our chapter swiftly achieved STAR status within the PRSSA community by meeting 8 out of 11 criteria in just two years, ranking us in the top 14% of chapters nationwide. We were honored with the Faculty Advisor of the Year award at the 2023 ICON conference. Our membership grew from 12 to 75 active members from 2021 to 2023. We are set to host the 2024 Southeast District Conference and have established ourselves as a Registered Student Organization. Our beginnings in 2021 led to significant growth, including restructuring a course to include a public relations internship component and fostering partnerships with 32 organizations.

• Recipient of the 2019 Julie Dodd Teaching Award, University of Florida, College of Journalism and Communications• Experience with varying class sizes from 18 to 50+ students and in person and virtual platforms (e.g., Canvas)Ph.D. Candidate/Instructor of Record • Media Planning (ADV 4300)• Branding (ADV 4930)*• Undergraduate student research-based independent study Teaching Assistant• Branding (ADV 4930)• Public Relations CampaignsDissertation: Our ultimate hope or something sinister: Social media advertisements, digital discourse with physicians, and maternal source credibility perceptions of pro-vaccine messages during a global pandemic | Chair: Dr. Debbie Treise

Owned my own social media/ digital media consulting firm and helped small businesses with their social strategy and integrated marketing communications needs prior to beginning my Ph.D. program.

Leadership position to help recruit and develop talent, improve staff training, hospitality, customer service and operations; assist with marketing-related events. Managed annual marketing budget of $90,000.

•Managed public image of rapidly expanding medical practice with pediatrics, geriatrics and child psychology; daily volume of more than 100 patients in central office plus two satellite offices•Co-managed merger of family practice division in Fall of 2015; immediate supervisor of 25 employees•Coordinated data integration and conversion of 1500 paper charts into Electronic Medical Records (EMR) in less than 45 days utilizing internal resources saving the company more than $27,000•Designed and supervised re-branding of separate clinics into one entity with unified logo, website and marketing materials within 90 days of hire•Created and oversaw production of advertising content for print, digital, broadcast, radio, billboards, and social media; produced 18 new commercials for brand •Personally recruited more than 150 new patients over two years, directly resulting in more than $75,000 in revenue•Masterminded and executed the initial and two subsequent Expectant Mommy Expo events with more than 300 total attendees and more than $600,000 of potential revenue generation •Wrote news releases, blogs and arranges press interviews on current healthcare issues•Established PMG as an official Partner in Education with more than 20 local schools•Published expectant parent guidebook with more than 30 articles in hard copy and electronic format•Managed annual marketing budget of $30,000•Physician Recruitment and Human Resources Coordinator, successfully completed more than 30 employee hires•Acted as the face of the business with outside vendors and third parties as the primary point of contact•Incorporated and restructured policies and procedures to provide optimal patient experience, resolved conflicts among staff and patients and handled both internal and external communication initiatives•Increased Well Child Check Ups by 56% over 2 years contributing to $200,000 in revenue •Software: Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite and eClinicalWorks

•Guided peers in basic reporting classes to formulate news stories that were consistent with proper spelling, grammar and Associated Press style. •Demonstrated ability to communicate instructions and motivate students at varying skill levels.

• Recurring full-time summer job of 40 hours per week. Selected as one of four students out of 550 applicants in 2007. As a job requirement, applied for and maintained Secret Security Clearance. • Wrote feature stories for the Public Affairs website; interviewed the Chief of Staff; updated Technical Center fact sheets, and made presentations on various missile defense programs.• Helped to write technical paper presenting research findings on Decision Support System (DSS) for early breast cancer detection in collaboration with Walter Reed Army Medical Center.• Created unique content to update the Technical Center website and advised on design elements; ghost wrote articles for the Director of the Technical Center in the Army Space Journal. • Helped to plan Command-level events, such as the Army Birthday celebration and annual SMD-Conference•Organized all training elements for bi-annual Command Inspection