Meet the graduate employees teaching public relations

Megan Denneny stands at the front of a classroom looking at a projector screen
Megan Denneny teaches students in her public relations communication class how to use journalistic and storytelling skills to develop strategic content customized for a variety of platforms used in public relations campaigns. Denneny is a graduate employee for the School of Journalism and Communication, which gives doctoral students the opportunity to get their degrees sans tuition in exchange for participating in research and teaching their own classes. Photo by Jeremy Parker.

When Duck students begin to prep for a new term, doctoral students often take on an additional step in the process: planning the classes they will teach. That’s because students enrolled in the Communication and Media Studies Ph.D. program in UO’s School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC) assist with research and teaching or teach their own classes. In return, they receive full funding — meaning their tuition is paid — if they complete 16 hours of teaching or research a week.

To become graduate employees (GEs), students are evaluated on their previous teaching and media experience, academic promise and academic needs. To qualify to teach a class, students must have previously taken or taught the course.

Through this spring and summer, several public relations courses in the SOJC will have new faces at the front of the class, including Megan Denneny, Nii Mahliaire and Samantha Lorenzo.

portrait of Megan Denneny
Megan Denneny, a doctoral student in the Communication and Media Studies Ph.D. program in the School of Journalism and Communication, is teaching J-452 Public Relations Communications in spring 2023. The class is a writing-intensive lab where students produce advanced strategic content for multiple media platforms. Denneny is focusing her teaching on a “real-life perspective.” Photo by Owen Lowe-Rogstad.

Where graduate employees bring baked goods to class

Megan Denneny is teaching J-452 Public Relations Communications in spring 2023. Denneny is pursuing a doctorate in media and communication with a focus on the use of technology and digital media in a health context.

Denneny said that in her classes, she tries to balance hands-on experience with career growth. 

“I like to focus on ‘real-life perspective,’ where all lessons and projects simulate what it’s like to work in the field,” Denneny said. “Simultaneously, I prioritize professional development to prepare students for life beyond college, whether that be a job, grad school or an alternative path.”

For Denneny, teaching and working with students has always been her favorite part of her job. She also likes to bring one of her favorite out-of-class hobbies — baking — into the classroom whenever she can, as a way to connect with students.

“Students can expect samplings of my latest experiments,” Denneny said.

portrait of Nii Mahliaire
Nii Mahliaire is a doctoral student in the Communication and Media Studies Ph.D. program in the School of Journalism and Communication. She is studying health communication with an emphasis on opioid use disorder and is teaching J-453/553 Strategic Planning and Cases in spring 2023. In this class, students explore campaign planning, administration, crisis communication and issues management. Photo courtesy of Nii Mahliaire.

Graduate employees make planning fun

Next term, doctoral student Nii Mahliaire is teaching J-453/553 PR Plans and Cases. Mahliaire is also studying health communication with a focus on messaging modes about recovery resources for opioid use disorder.

Mahliaire said she enjoys teaching this course and hopes to bring her enthusiasm to students who may not enjoy the planning process as much as she does — yet.

“Often creating a plan takes immense energy,” Mahliaire said. “I want to focus on this being a fun and explorative process for the students where they can create a plan they feel confident to execute in the future.”

Mahliaire decided to apply to the SOJC Ph.D. program because she has always wanted to become a professor.

“I have always enjoyed teaching, whether that is one on one or in a larger setting,” Mahliaire said. “I also mentor youth during the summer months regarding ethical technology use and social media literacy.”

portrait of Samantha Lorenzo
Communications and Media Studies doctoral student Samantha Lorenzo will be teaching J-480/580, a special topics class focused on public relations strategies in music and entertainment, in summer 2023. She taught J-453/553 Strategic Planning and Cases in winter 2023. Photo courtesy of Samantha Lorenzo.

Graduate employee teaching music and entertainment PR

Doctoral student Samantha Lorenzo is teaching J-480/580 Strategies in Music and Entertainment over the summer.

Originally, Lorenzo didn’t plan to pursue teaching, but she changed her mind after working as a GE for a few terms.

“To be honest, before coming to UO, I didn’t really have that much of an interest in teaching,” Lorenzo said. “However, after being a GE for several terms and now teaching my own classes, I have absolutely fallen in love with teaching, and now I feel like this is what I’m meant to be doing.”

In her classes, Lorenzo tries to teach skills students can use in the professional world.

“In addition to teaching the core foundations of PR and communication work, I believe in developing transferable skills that students can take beyond the classroom,” Lorenzo said. “I also believe in fostering an experiential learning environment where students feel comfortable to explore and hone in on their own unique interest.”

Lorenzo also said that one of the most rewarding parts of teaching is being a resource and support system for students.

“I’m so excited for the new term to begin and for the opportunity to continue working and building relationships with those in the SOJC community,” Lorenzo said.

In addition to teaching, doctoral students conduct research, build their portfolios and work closely with the faculty in the SOJC. Each Ph.D. cohort ranges from nine to 12 students, and the program is designed to be completed in four years. Find more information on the Communication and Media Studies Doctoral program webpage.

—Ella Norton, public relations ’24

Ella Norton (she/her/hers) is a third-year student majoring in public relations and French from Kansas City, Missouri. She is a copy editor for Align Magazine, an account executive for Allen Hall Public Relations and an academic development chair for her sorority.