This fall, one alum and six graduate students will make their mark from the front of the classroom. These adjunct instructors and lecturers will provide new perspectives to undergraduate students through their real-world experiences across diverse fields.
Get to know the new members of our staff who are joining the School of Journalism and Mass Communication this semester.
Adjunct Instructor
Thomas Beckman
Thomas Beckman is returning for his third year as an adjunct instructor of J475: Anatomy of Marketing Message Strategies. As the owner of 28 Power Communications, Beckman uses the skills he gained at the SJMC to produce media strategies for companies to effectively communicate with stakeholders, customers, employees and the public.
What do you find most rewarding about teaching at the SJMC and working with the next generation of communicators?
The most rewarding part of teaching is watching students harness the power of storytelling, learning how to shape ideas into messages that truly connect with people. Storytelling is a lifelong skill, and seeing students realize they have the power to create stories that can inform, inspire, and make a lasting impact is incredibly fulfilling.
What perspective do you hope to bring to the students you teach?
I want students to see that storytelling is more than a skill, it’s a responsibility. By bringing real-world experiences into the classroom, I hope to show them how strategic, authentic stories can build trust, drive change, and create impact, skills they can carry throughout their careers and lives.
Lecturers
Aman Abhishek
Aman Abhishek is a Ph.D. candidate at the SJMC with minors in history and political science. His research focuses on the political economy of communication, activist media and social movements. Abhishek will teach J162: Mass Media in Multicultural America this fall.
Carlos Dávalos
Carlos Dávalos is a Ph.D. student at the SJMC and lecturer for J617: Health Communication in the Information Age this fall. His research examines the transnational relationship between Mexico and the U.S. in mainstream media, with a focus on FM radio, cultural industries and identity formation.
What do you find most rewarding about teaching at the SJMC and working with the next generation of communicators?
Without any doubt, the most rewarding aspect of teaching at the SJMC is the privilege of helping students develop a critical perspective on their reality. Learning from students is another essential, gratifying aspect of classroom interaction.
What perspective do you hope to bring to the students you teach?
I hope to provide a critical and outside-the-United-States perspective.
Max Fuller
Max Fuller is a Ph.D. student at the SJMC and lecturer J150: Introduction to Sports Communication this fall. Fuller’s research focuses on 20th century American journalistic practices and examines the intersection of journalism, ethnicity, liberalism and labor in American culture.
What do you find most rewarding about teaching at the SJMC and working with the next generation of communicators?
The most rewarding element is absolutely working with the students. I love introducing an idea/topic and seeing students embrace it like it was their own. I love seeing students’ projects progress and evolve as they work through them and how they can approach something that may have seemed complex at first, embrace it, and make it their own.
What perspective do you hope to bring to the students you teach?
I approach my work historically, that is, I look back to get an understanding of the present. But I also find that this perspective provides a great deal of insight into our future trajectory. I hope to show students the value in this approach so they can utilize it as they prepare to enter the professional world.
Yibing Sun
Yibing Sun is a Ph.D. student at the SJMC and her research explores how multimodal content is produced, circulated and interpreted within networked communication environments, with particular attention to visual persuasion, visual politics and the role of emerging technologies such as AI in shaping public understanding. Sun will be the lecturer for J677: Concepts and Tools for Data Analysis and Visualization.
What do you find most rewarding about teaching at the SJMC and working with the next generation of communicators?
I find it most rewarding to help students discover their voices and gain confidence in translating complex ideas into compelling stories. Their creativity and fresh perspectives constantly inspire me and enrich my own teaching and research.
What perspective do you hope to bring to the students you teach?
I hope to show students that communication is not just about delivering information but about collaborating to create meaningful, ethical, and impactful stories.
Yiming Wang
Yiming Wang is a Ph.D. student at the SJMC with a minor in political science. Her research explores the evolving digital media ecosystem and its implications for democracy, focusing on how today’s informational environment shapes both political elites’ communication strategies and the public’s news behaviors and the broader societal consequences of these interactions. Wang will be a lecturer for J677: Concepts and Tools for Data Analysis and Visualization.
What do you find most rewarding about teaching at the SJMC and working with the next generation of communicators?
As a doctoral candidate at SJMC, I was drawn to teaching by my desire to engage with curious, motivated students who are eager to explore the world of journalism and communication. Since joining the SJMC, I’ve learned how rewarding it is to inspire students’ interest in complex ideas, guide them through new skills, and see them connect classroom concepts to real-world questions. I’ve valued every opportunity to share my passion for research beyond academic writing—through conversations, projects, and mentorship. Now, as an instructor, I enjoy the creative freedom to shape discussions and learning experiences while taking on the responsibility of helping students grow into thoughtful, capable journalists and communicators.
What perspective do you hope to bring to the students you teach?
I hope to give students both the confidence and the tools to approach data as something more than numbers on a page—as a way to uncover stories, understand communities, and make a meaningful impact. My own research in political communication and journalism has taught me that how we analyze and present information can shape public understanding in profound ways. In the classroom, I encourage students to think critically about where data comes from, what it represents, and how to communicate it ethically and effectively. I want them to see data analysis and visualization not just as technical skills, but as part of a larger craft of telling clear, compelling, and responsible stories that serve the public good.