School.

University of Iowa 

Strategic Communication Program

Selected Work

JMC 5235: Strategic Communications Research

Final Presentation

“There’s no way this isn’t racist: White women teachers and the raciolinguistic ideologies of teaching code-switching.”

The PowerPoint on my research analysis on a 2018 study from the University of Washington.

The breakdown includes an abstract, literature review, research questions, methodologies, research design, findings, and conclusions. This is a topic close to my heart as the biracial son of a white woman teacher with a big heart but limited training and understanding, and I highly recommend the studies cited to anyone interested in the topic.

JMC 5269: Media Management for Strategic Communication

Case Study

Mobile ESPN: The fumble before the big game — How the 2006 flop of ESPN’s phone was followed by a decade of digital domination

One of my favorite assignments in the program thus far asked us to put together an individual case study and themed group presentation on an industry-changing decision or outcome in the modern media landscape. I decided to focus on Mobile ESPN, probably better known as “ESPN the Phone.” The report heavily cited James Andrew Miller’s excellent ESPN oral history, Those Guys Have All The Fun, as well as media and advertising reports from the 2006 launch (and flop).

JMC 5270: Leadership Communication

Leadership Learning Plan

My first semester in the program was capped by a reflection-driven assignment by local communications and leadership guru Dr. Jann Freed. The LLP was intended to get us to devise personal mission statements, vision, outline our leadership philosophies, name and seek feedback from a personal board of directors, spell out a tangible three-year plan, the classic SWOT analysis, and even write a premature eulogy for ourselves. Had to dig deep into the feelings for this class, but ultimately pleased with the fruits of the labor.

Fall 2020 Semester Outline

JMC 5300: Foundations of Strategic Communication

Assignment 1: ROPES

Our first assignment in the introductory core class of the program had each student select an organization to work (or “work”) for and analyze content throughout the semester. This ROPES outline — Research, Objectives, Programming, Evaluation, Stewardship, and adjusted as necessary — focuses on my preferred and real organization, the IHSAA.

Assignment 2: Theory

Analysis on messaging and theories on our selected organizations following classwork and lectures. I addressed the IHSAA’s need for officials in a spin on the “Add One” initiative with a couple content assets included.

Assignment 3: Writing

Tasked with writing a press release and related content for an assignment in late September, I double-dipped and drafted a statement on the state cross country meet being split on dates due to COVID-19. Sound familiar?

Assignment 4: Social Strategy

An analysis of the IHSAA’s social media strategy. As the administrator for IHSAA accounts on Twitter and Facebook, any criticism is almost entirely self-directed and with the understanding that these can better. Even if the brand and experience make my social media time miserable most the time.

Group Project: Report and Presentation

Placed in a group of six for a late semester report and presentation on the messaging and theories utilized by organizations in specific sectors, my colleagues selected Amnesty International as an a global-minded pick. After discussing concerns and considerations as a group, we split up assignments and I took on the effectiveness of Amnesty’s current content and designed new social media and published content assets for the organization. I know “Group Project” sent a chill down everyone’s spine after reading the syllabus, but this worked out well enough with proper delegation.