I graduated from Willamette University in 1997, where I received training in rhetorical criticism from David Douglass, Bob Trapp, and Catherine Collins. Having volunteered for Rep. Hooley and Sen. Wyden, I secured a job on Sen. Kennedy’s campaign, which mostly consisted of donor relations and event planning. Although the job was exciting and Sen. Kennedy was an inspiration, the organizational culture did not suit me.
A friend led me to an entry-level job in development at the Association for Reproductive Health Professionals, and I worked my way up to the position of media relations manager. I decided to get my master’s degree because I wanted a formal education in public relations.
After two years of studying public relations at the University of Maryland with Lauri and Jim Grunig, Linda Aldoory, and Katherine McComas (while also studying rhetorical criticism with Jim Klumpp, Shawn Parry-Giles, and Mari Boor Tonn), I was inspired to continue my studies. For the next five years, I studied public relations and spent summers working in various public relations jobs.
In the summer of 2007, I was thrilled to return to my home state to work as an assistant professor of public relations at the University of Oregon. This quarter, I am teaching Strategic Public Relations Communication and Media and Society.
As for my research, I’m working on a few projects. I am in the data analysis phase of a grant from the Public Relations Society of America Foundation. I am working with Pat Curtin and Kelli Matthews to study ethics and relationship management between agency employers and their Millennial Generation employees. In addition, I am in the process of sending out articles from my dissertation to publish. My dissertation is about relationship management in a case study of a health advocacy organization.
