My Education
Southern Oregon University
B.A., English and Writing
Minor: Interdisciplinary Ethics
Churchill Honors Scholar, Cum Laude
University of Oklahoma
M.A., Communications Studies
Expertise: Organizational Communication
University of Southern California
M.A., Communication
Expertise: Groups, Organizations and Networks; Media, Culture and Community
University of Southern California
Ph.D., Communication Studies
Expertise: Organizational Communication; High-reliability teams and organizations
Academic/Professional Appointments
2024 Board of Directors, 2024-2026
International Association of Wildland Fire (IAWF)
2023-Present Assistant Professor, Organizational Communication
Department of Communication, University of Kentucky
2022-2023 Mentor, Start to Finish Program
Center for Graduate and Professional Diversity Initiatives, the Graduate Student
Congress, and the Graduate School, University of Kentucky
2022-2023 Annenberg Advanced Ph.D. Student Fellow
Department of Communication, University of Southern California
2022 Assistant Lecturer (Summer), COMM 322: Argumentation and Advocacy
Department of Communication, University of Southern California
2022 Assistant Lecturer (Spring), COMM 322: Argumentation and Advocacy
Department of Communication, University of Southern California
2021 Graduate Research Assistant, Patricia (Patti) Riley, Ph.D.
Department of Communication, University of Southern California
2021 Graduate Research Assistant, Larry Gross, Ph.D.
International Journal of Communication (IJOC)
Department of Communication, University of Southern California
2021 AUGMent Fellow
Department of Communication, University of Southern California
2020-2021 Graduate Research Assistant, Sheila Murphy, Ph.D.
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Grant (#77583)
Department of Communication, University of Southern California
2019-2021 Graduate Teaching Assistant
Department of Communication, University of Southern California
Teaching Experience
University of Kentucky Teaching Experience:
COM 581: Teamwork and Leadership in Organizations, 2023-2024
COM 325: Introduction to Organizational Communication, 2024
CI 625: (Graduate) Proseminar in Organizational Communication, 2024
University of Southern California Teaching Experience:
COMM 322: Argumentation and Advocacy, 2022
COMM 552: (Graduate) Qualitative Research Methods, 2021
COMM 206: Communication and Media Economics, 2021
CMGT 540: (Graduate) Uses of Communication Research, 2019
Additional Teaching and Guest Lecture Experience:
2024 Guest Lecturer for COMM 636: Interpretive and Cultural Approaches in Organizational
Communication
University of Southern California
2024 Guest Speaker: Teamwork and Trust in Aerial Firefighting
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Annual Aviation Safety
Conference
2023 Judge and Respondent: Prepared Public Speaking
California Future Farmers of America Southern Region Contest
2023 Guest Lecturer for JOUR 710: Organizational Communication
University of South Carolina
2022 Guest Lecturer for CSS 5322: Communication and Organizing in Disruptions
Baylor University
2022 Judge and Respondent: Prepared Public Speaking
California Future Farmers of America Southern Region Contest
2021 Instructor: Business Interviews
California Future Farmers of America San Diego Section
2020-2021 Guest Lecturer for HE 344: Professional Communication
U.S. Naval Academy
2019-2021 Instructor: Advanced Prepared Public Speaking Seminars
California Future Farmers of America Southern Region Sections (Buena Park, Ramona, Julian, and Fallbrook)
2019 Judge and Respondent: Ag Education and Ag Communications
California Future Farmers of America State Convention
2019 Invitation: Guest Lecturer on Team Dynamics and the Importance of Teamwork
California Future Farmers of America Southern Region Convention
2018 Keynote Speaker: The Importance of Teamwork
Future Farmers of America Southern California Region Sectional Retreat
2011-2018 Instructor: Senior Executive Service/Flag Officer Media Interview and Public Speaking Methods
Office of the Chief of Information, U.S. Navy (Pentagon Headquarters)
2014-2016 Instructor: Media Response and Interview Techniques
U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron (Blue Angels)
2014-2016 Invitation: Guest Lecturer on Team Dynamics and the Importance of Teamwork
40+ U.S. elementary, middle, and high school institutions
2015 Crisis Communication Seminar
U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron (Blue Angels)
Relevant Non-Academic Work Experience
2018-2019 Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Naval Reserves
U.S. Navy Office of Information (West) - Hollywood Production Division
2011-2018 Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Navy
U.S. Navy Office of Diversity & Inclusion; U.S. Navy Office of Women’s Policy; U.S. Navy Officer of Military Personnel Plans and Policy; U.S. Navy Chief of Naval Personnel, U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron; U.S. Navy Office of the Chief of Information
2017-2018 White House Social Aide, U.S. Navy
Selected under 44th U.S. President Barak H. Obama
Served under 45th U.S. President Donald J. Trump
2010-2011 Americorps VISTA
Lead Director, Teen Volunteer Program Development
United Way of Snohomish County
2004-2006 Lead Reporter/Producer
KOBI/KOTI NBC-5 and FOX 26: Medford, Oregon
American Forces Network-Europe: Sigonella, Sicily
Disciplinary Service
National Communication Association
Reviewer (Organizational Communication Division), 2022
Reviewer (Group Communication Division), 2022
Organizational Communication Division, Mentoring and Welcoming Committee, 2021.
Reviewer (Group Communication Division), 2021
International Communication Association
Reviewer (Information Systems Division), 2021
Reviewer (Health Communication Division), 2020
Reviewer (Feminist Studies Division), 2019
Western States Communication Association
Reviewer (Interpersonal Communication), 2022
International Journal of Communication
Assistant Editor, 2021
AUGMent Undergraduate Mentorship Program
University of Southern California AUGMent Fellow (Competitive selection by USC faculty), 2022
Annenberg Communication Graduate Student Association (ACGSA) of University of Southern
California
President (Elected Position), 2020-21
Honors and Awards
2022-2023 Annenberg Fellowship for Continuing/Advanced PhD Students, May 2022
University of Southern California PhD Achievement Award, April 2022
University of Southern California AUGMent Fellow, October 2021
National FFA Organization Honorary Chapter FFA Degree (student nominated), June 2021
USC Center for the Changing Family Student Trainee Selection, Spring 2021
Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Chief of Information, 2018
Meritorious Service Medal, U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron (Blue Angels), 2015
Russell Egnor Navy Media Awards (1st place, small command); U.S. Navy Blue Angels Cruisebook, 2015
Russell Egnor Navy Media Awards First Place (1st place, small command); U.S. Navy Blue Angels Digital Presence, 2015
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Chief of Naval Personnel, 2014
Professional Memberships
National Communication Association
Communication and Military Division
Ethnography Division
Feminist and Gender Studies Division
Group Communication Division
Health Communication Division
Interpersonal Communication Division
Mass Communication Division
Organizational Communication Division
Public Relations Division
Visual Communication Division
Women’s Caucus
International Communication Association
Feminist Scholarship
Intergroup Communication
Journalism Studies
Mass Communication
Media Industry Studies
Organizational Communication
Popular Media & Culture
Public Relations
Visual Communication Studies
International Association of Wildland Fire (IAWF)
Kentucky Communication Association
Veteran Studies Association (VSA)
Funding History
2022-2023 Annenberg Fellowship for Continuing/Advanced PhD Students, University of Southern California, $36,000. May 2022
University of Southern California Graduate School Summer Research and Writing Grant. University of Southern California. $2,000. March 2022.
NCA Student Caucus Travel Grant. National Communication Association. $300. November
2021.
University of Southern California AUGMent Fellow Grant. University of Southern California. $1,000. October 2021.
University of Southern California Annenberg Dissertation Research Grant. University of Southern California. Investigating high reliability team (HRT) communication practices: CAL FIRE Tactical Air Operations. $3,000. September 2021.
Annenberg Summer Research Institute Fellowship Grant. University of Southern California.
$2,000. Exploring COVID-19 vaccines attitudes of active-duty U.S. military and their families. June 2021 - August 2021.
SCymposium. University of Southern California. $1,000. What’s the Diff? Examining news article updates and the changing narratives during the USS Theodore Roosevelt coronavirus crisis. April 2021.
University of Sothern California Fellowship Boot Camp for Advanced Ph.D’s Grant. University
of Southern California. $1,000. Following female firsts footsteps: A study ISO Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (Grant #N00421-20-S-0001). February - May 2021.
University of Southern California Annenberg Conference Travel Grant. University of Southern California. $1,000. September 2021.
Annenberg Summer Research Institute Fellowship Grant. University of Southern California. $2,500. Carrier(ed) away, but who is to blame? Examining the U.S. Navy’s aircraft
carrier COVID-19 crisis through Twitter. June 2020 - August 2020.
University of Southern California Annenberg Conference Travel Grant. University of Southern California. $1,000. September 2020.
NCA Student Caucus Travel Grant. National Communication Association. $50. November 2019.
University of Southern California Annenberg Conference Travel Grant. University of Southern California. $1,000. September 2019.
University of Southern California Annenberg Conference Travel Grant. University of Southern California. $1,500. September 2018.
University of Southern California Graduate Student Government Travel Grant. University of Southern California. $500. September 2018.
University of Southern California Boot Camp Fellowship Grant. University of Southern California. $1,000. June - August 2018.