A distinctly hands-on program
Our students get both the academic and experiential sides of communication and media studies because they develop and implement practical skills while they're here. They leave Naz with the skills and ability to step right into industry jobs as well as knowledge of theoretical constructs that will serve them as the profession shifts and changes — it's truly the best of both worlds.
My academic passion
I am fascinated by all things related to media, and my favorite part of my job is chatting with students about their lived experiences related to digital and social media. It may sound cliché to say that students teach me so much, but it's true! They inform my teaching philosophy; it's a collaborative experience. And being an effective, knowledgeable teacher makes me a better researcher.
Courses I teach
I love teaching our intro class, Introduction to Media Industries, because it covers so much material and I get to update the course content continually as the media landscape changes. I also teach:
- Comm Theory
- Social Media
- Digital Writing
- Media Representation
- Popular Music and Emotion
Cultivating changemakers
Nazareth's focus on changemaking, equity, and social justice immediately appealed to me when I joined the faculty. The university implements these goals at every turn, and I feel empowered to integrate them into the classroom experience. I've been involved in multiple initiatives to engage with community outreach with my students. They leave our classes in Comm and Media knowing how to engage with media content critically and how to be responsible, equity-minded media producers.
A culture of caring
There's a phrase I routinely see in student feedback: "Dr. Billinson really cares about her students." It's true. I care so deeply about them as whole people and I'm glad it shows in the way I run my classroom and advise students. I always try to lead with humanity and empathy – an approach very much in line with the spirit of Nazareth University.
Jenn Billinson with students in her Representation in Media course.
"She made us feel like peers."
"Dr. Billinson's emphasis on a student-teacher dialogue-based class was very important to me because she made us feel like peers. She taught us how to analyze multiple mediums critically to get to the baseline truth of any story. I think about her class often. She's taken the time to come out to a few of my shows after I graduated!"
— Reid Burton '23 (music business), who went on to work as a coach with Rochester music school Roc Star Academy and perform in a local band