I currently serve as the research chair for the Participatory Journalism Interest Group, part of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, and have reviewed books and papers for several academic journals. I’ve judged a variety of journalism industry awards, including the Ellie Awards for American Society of Magazine Editors, and helped choose panel proposals for the Online News Association annual conference. At the University of Memphis I was a founding executive committee member, SafeZone, where we established a volunteer network in support of the campus LGBT community; the university was the last of its 12 peer institutions to establish this program. Finally, I’ve served on many internal university committees, including the curriculum committee at two universities, one of which completely overhauled and updated the news curriculum to add multimedia and social media elements; the diversity committee, where I created a new monthly newsletter with updates and resources; and many search committees for a variety of positions.
Industry Service
Mentor, International Center for Journalists (2023)
Judge, Covering Climate Now Awards (2022-present)
Program team, reviewing proposals for potential acceptance to the annual Online News Association conference (2015 and 2019)
Judge, Ellie Awards, American Society of Magazine Editors (2018-2020)
Advisory board member, Gather, a community of practice for engaged journalists and educators (2017-present)
Advisory board member, Your Voice Ohio, a collaboration of news organizations across the state responding to the needs of all Ohioans (2018)
Judge, Ippies Awards, honoring reporting in English and in languages other than English by the ethnic and community press in New York City (2015-2018)
Advisor, Philadelphia Inquirer/J+ design thinking workshop. Worked with group of editors to develop community listening exercises for the news organization (2017)
Judge, Webby Awards (2015)
Research Advisory Group, American Press Institute. Named one of a “select group of thought leaders” helping to “forge new partnerships and collaboration and to accelerate the level of knowledge and innovation in newsrooms and news companies, while at the same time raising the level of application of scholarly research.” (2013-2014)
Monthly contributor, Carnival of Journalism. Each month, a broad range of scholars and journalism practitioners wrote essays in response to a question or prompt, led by David Cohn, then of Spot.Us. Each entry was summarized in a monthly round-up and widely shared, facilitating a broad exchange of ideas both within and outside the academic community (2011-2012)
Judge, Central States Chapter of the Society of American Travel Writers contest (2007)
Writing coach/instructor, Reynolds High School Journalism Institute, training program for high school journalism teachers, sponsored by American Society of News Editors and Reynolds Institute (July 2007)
Internal University Service
Campus Life and Facilities Chair, Newmark Graduate School of Journalism (2023-present)
Curriculum Committee, Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, (2016-present)
Diversity Committee Chair, Newmark Graduate School of Journalism (2021-2023)
Career Services Associate Search Committee, Newmark Graduate School of Journalism (2022)
Distinguished Lecturer Position in Audio Journalism Search Committee, Newmark Graduate School of Journalism (2019)
Assistant Director of Admissions Search Committee, Newmark Graduate School of Journalism (2018)
Associate Professor Search Committee, Newmark Graduate School of Journalism (2017)
Social Media Marketing Manager Search Committee, Newmark Graduate School of Journalism (2016)
Alumni Association Teaching Award Selection Committee, University of Memphis, (2013-2014)
Writing Instructor Search Committee, University of Memphis (Spring 2014)
Member, University of Memphis Entrepreneurship Exploratory Committee (2013-2014)
Faculty mentor, Resume Workshop Series, University of Memphis (2013-2014)
Faculty mentor, Ideas Weekend, University of Memphis (2013)
Teen Appeal Coordinator Search Committee, University of Memphis (2013).
Social Media Club Adviser, University of Memphis (2012-2014)
Social Media Working Group Member, University of Memphis (2012- 2014)
Broadcast Faculty Search Committee, University of Memphis, (2012)
Founding Executive Committee Member, SafeZone (2011-2014) Worked with a network of faculty, students and staff across campus to establish volunteer network in support of campus LGBT community. The University of Memphis was the last of its 12 peer institutions to establish this program, which trains volunteers to help LGBT faculty, staff and students and refer them to relevant resources. I also served as a volunteer and have received the training.
Professional Development Committee, University of Memphis (2011-2012) We worked on developing new programs that encouraged students to participate in more opportunities for mentoring by the local professional community and other events on campus designed to broaden and improve their skills.
Website & Social Media Committee, University of Memphis (2010-2014) I maintained the department’s Facebook page and Twitter feed, posting about student and faculty accomplishments, job and internship opportunities, journalism-related campus events, and other news and resources for students.
Qualitative Certificate Advisory Committee, University of Memphis (2010-2013) Assisted faculty members in the Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Research in the development of a new university-wide program that trained students in ethnographic observation, interviewing, and a host of other advanced qualitative methodology techniques.
Faculty Input Committee, University of Memphis (2009-2010) This committee assists the faculty senate and the university in the assessment of faculty opinions and priorities through the creation and analysis of surveys.
Internship/Placement Committee, University of Memphis (2010-2014).
Hardin Chair Search Committee, University of Memphis (Spring 2010)
Curriculum Committee, University of Memphis (2009–2014)
News Curriculum Subcommittee Chair, University of Memphis (2009-2011) I led a complete overhaul of the department’s news curriculum that went into effect in fall of 2011. The new curriculum emphasized a variety of new multimedia skills while maintaining a strong emphasis on core writing and reporting skills. This overhaul required considerable background research, brainstorming, and preparation of written materials
Recruitment Committee, University of Memphis (Chair: 2008 – 2009; Member: 2009-2010)
External University Service
Research chair, Participatory Journalism Interest Group (2021-present)
Program review, University of Rhode Island journalism program, 2023
Editorial board member and paper reviewer, Community Journalism journal (2011-2015)
Journal reviewer: Journalism Studies, Journal of Magazine & New Media Research, Digital Journalism, Communication & Society, Newspaper Research Journal, New Media & Society, Journal of Communication Inquiry
Book reviewer, Columbia University Press and Oxford University Press
External program reviewer, Central Connecticut State University (2017)
Judge, American Journalism Historians Association book award (2014)
Paper reviewer, various divisions, Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (2008-present)
Judge, Best of Web 2010 Awards, Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (Spring 2010)