I'm an Associate Professor of Communication Arts & Sciences and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and founded the major in Communication Arts & Sciences at Penn State Berks.

 

I teach a variety of courses, including: Public Speaking; Gender and Communication; The Rhetoric of American Horror Films; Conflict Management, Careers in Communication; Mass Media and Society, Women, Minorities, and the Media; Women's Public Address; Black American Rhetoric, Issues in Freedom of Expression; Social Movements; Feminist Theory; and Contemporary American Political Rhetoric.

 

My research interests include representations of gender in the media, women's rights rhetoric, social movement rhetoric, political rhetoric, and advocation for the humanities.

 

Honors for my research, service, and teaching include: 

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1993 and 1995 Outstanding Service to the Department Award, Department of Communication Studies, University of North Texas

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1994 Outstanding Graduate Student Award, Department of Communication Studies, University of North Texas 1998 Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, University of Georgia

 

2001 Cheris Kramarae Dissertation Award from the Organization for the Study of Communication, Language, and Gender

 

2006 Penn State Berks Outstanding Faculty Advising Award

 

2008 Penn State Berks Outstanding Faculty Service Award

 

2009 Curricular Integration Award from the President's Commission on LGBTQ Equity at Penn State University

 

2010 Achieving Woman Award (faculty category) from the President's Commission on Women at Penn State University.

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2015 Rosemary Schraer Mentoring Award from the President's Commission on Women at Penn State University.

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2016 Community Partnership Award from the Junior League of Reading. 

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2017 Feminist Teaching/Mentor Award, Organization for the Study of Communication, Language, and Gender.

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2020 Outstanding Alumus Award, Department of Communication Studies, University of North Texas

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2022-2025 General Education Faculty Scholar, Pennsylvania State University

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2023 MLK Leadership Award, Penn State Berks

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I am the Secretary of the Reading Film Office Board of Directors. I also enjoy working with a variety of community organizations on issues of gender, media literacy, education, and women's rights. I lives in Mt. Penn, PA with my husband and our four cats. 

 

I blog at Mere Rhetoric.