Way back in 2012, I left teaching in Western’s journalism department to take a position in Bellingham City Hall — and I’ve been scheming to return to the classroom ever since. In January 2020, I stepped down as communications director for the City of Bellingham, only to return for a few months to assist with emergency communications during the beginning of the pandemic. In June 2020, however, I rejoined the journalism department to teach news writing and public relations courses, and I was also appointed chair of the Student Publications Council, which hires student editors and manages the publication budgets.
After nearly ten years away, I am so pleased to be back in person with our students. In the fall, I finally returned to the physical classroom (yay!) to teach newswriting in the fall and winter quarters — and what an interesting time it is to be discussing the news. Spring quarter I am teaching Editing and Principles of Public Relations, and I look forward to teaching these courses again. The world changes quickly these days, and so do the journalism and public relations fields, and it’s been a welcomed challenge to return to guiding students on this journey of discovery.
