 "Photo:")
Q: Before becoming a journalism professor, what was your career?
A: I worked in local television news in varying positions - as a reporter, news anchor and producer.
Q: What made you decide to enter the classroom? Do you miss your old job?
A: As a television reporter, you're always trying to make deadline and then find another story to cover - you rarely have time to focus on a subject in-depth. I love my job in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications because I can follow the news and teach others about journalism while also having the time to research issues that are important to me and make a difference in our field. Occasionally, when a big story breaks on the news, I'll wish I was out in the field covering it. But it's also great to see my former students covering the big stories of the day.
Q: Describe a perfect day or weekend for you.
A: I love to do anything that is active and outdoors. Being outdoors is key, since my office is underneath the Carolina Coliseum and there are no windows! A great day for me is one I spend with my family outside - either biking, hiking or swimming.
Q: What's one thing you think students misunderstand the most about college professors?
A: When a student misses class, nine times out of 10 they ask the professor, "Did I miss anything important?" From our perspective, every class period is important - we wouldn't be lecturing on a topic if we didn't think it was relevant information. That is definitely not the best way to phrase the question.
Q: What's the best vacation you've ever been on?
A: I love to travel so it's really tough for me to choose my best vacation. However, something I will never forget are the months I spent studying and traveling abroad when I was an undergraduate student. I always encourage my students to take part in a study abroad experience, whether it's for a few weeks, a summer or an entire semester. Upon graduation, most students will never have the time to spend a significant amount of time exploring a foreign country. Make sure you make it happen while you can!
Be the first to comment on this article!