TEACHING

I teach courses that center identity and representation in entertainment media broadly and several courses that examine sports media in particular. Topics in my courses include media industries, participatory culture, brand culture, neoliberalism, labor, intersectionality, Black and Latinx feminist approaches to media, transgender identities, among others. My classes consider the ways identities intersect in various media contexts and how neoliberalism, whiteness, and the heteropatriarchy impact the production and representation of media. 

I was one of four instructors across the university awarded the fall 2021 Dads’ Association Centennial Teaching Fellowship in recognition of innovative and impactful teaching of first-year students.

Teaching Philosophy

One of my fundamental tasks as an instructor is to instill a sense of responsibility in my students as future titans of media industries. Students in my classes become film directors, casting directors, television writers, producers, brand managers, marketers, etc., who have the potential to change the status quo of media industries. The media they create has profound cultural resonance and it is up to them to design content that challenges conventions and promotes equity. The fact that I have an impact on how these students engage with the world upon graduation motivates me to constantly improve my classes and help students become changemakers.

I use several integral approaches to help my students to understand their role in their professions and the world while modeling inclusivity. I teach them to think critically, to take on their roles as citizens who value diversity and equity in their crafts, and to use their creativity to advance society. Additionally, I facilitate transformative learning that values their humanity first. 

Select Courses Taught

University of Texas at Austin