Teaching
Teaching Philosophy: I design research-integrated courses that transform classrooms into research ecosystems, combining experiential learning with partnerships with real-world organizations to enable students to produce publishable scholarship, develop professional expertise, and create meaningful public impact. Since joining the University of Iowa, I have developed four new courses spanning political communication, AI, computational methods, and audience analytics, all designed around research-intensive, experiential learning.
University of Iowa
JMC 3185:0001 Political Communication [Course Developer]
Research Certificate Course
Teaching Recognition: Best Teaching Idea Award, AEJMC 2026 Political Communication Division
Student Research Outputs: Navigating the Algorithm: Active Learning in Political Communication
JMC 3505:0001 Audiences and Analytics [Course Developer]
Media Management Minor Course
Client-Based Experiential Learning
JMC 3162:0001 AI and Media [Course Developer]
Research Certificate Course
AI Certificate Minor Course
Student Research Outputs: AI Fluency Magazines
University Media Coverage: New AI and Media course helps students navigate an evolving industry
JMC 6334:0001 Computational Methods [Course Developer]
Student Publication:
Chen, L.#, Zhou, K. & Kim, S. J. (2026). “You Are Not Fat”: The Postfeminist Contradiction in RejectBodyAnxiety - A Computationally Assisted Critical Thematic Analysis. Social Media + Society (doi).
Student Conference Awards:
Anjealica Ortiz & Sarah Witmer (2026). ‘Slayyyy news mommy’: Computational Topic Modeling of TikTok Comments About Women Broadcast Journalists. Top Student Paper Award. Broadcast and Mobile Journalism Division. AEJMC.
Jenny Xu (2025). How Emotions Drive User Engagement: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Doctor Influencers' Douyin (Chinese TikTok) Video Titles. Moeller Best Student Paper Award. Mass Communication and Society Division. AEJMC.
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Teaching Recognition: Excellence in Teaching Award (2022)
J201: Introduction to Mass Communication
Semesters Taught: Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019
Responsibilities: Taught discussion sessions, graded and provided feedback for oral presentations, graded class papers, and exams.
J564: Media and Consumer
Semesters Taught: Fall 2019, Fall 2020
Responsibilities: Led four labs (100 students on average), created my own syllabus, taught consumer research skills, guided papers on strategic communication, graded exams, and gave comments to strategic communication research students conducted. (syllabus)
J566: Media and Public Opinion
Semesters Taught: Spring 2020, Spring 2021
Responsibilities: Led four labs (50 students on average), created my own syllabus, taught public opinion research skills, guided papers on public opinion research and graded exams, and gave comments to research papers. (syllabus)