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I started teaching at the University of Florida as a doctoral student in 2004, and I’ve enjoyed working with the next generation of public relations practitioners since day one. I call it “working with” rather than teaching, because I believe education is a two-way process. Ultimately, the practice of public relations has changed considerably since I joined the academy in 2004. Although my consulting projects and contacts in the industry keep me engaged with current practice, the social media explosion and the push for relationships with an organization’s stakeholders have created a different public relations focus than the one that existed when I was a working practitioner. Because of this shift, education is a two-way street. I teach students theoretical and lasting professional applications and concepts, and they bring new topical trends and strategy into conversations in the classroom. This mutually-beneficial relationship is the core of public relations, and ultimately, it makes me strive to be a better professor. I want to be up-to-date and offer relevant information for my students.
This desire has caused me to create several new courses for the public relations and nonprofit students at NC State. I have developed courses on “Social Media and Public Relations” and “E-philanthropy Techniques and Strategies” to better prepare students for life in the real world. During my time at NC State, I’ve taught a variety of courses, ranging from the undergraduate “Introduction to Public Relations” to “Nonprofit Marketing and Public Relations” at the graduate level. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed all of them. Now, I see myself shifting from traditional classroom learning to a hybrid delivery model. I’ve taught several courses exclusively online, and those experiences have changed the way I seek to present course material. I fully believe that not all learning has to occur in a classroom setting. While the traditional education model has a professor standing in front of a classroom lecturing to students, technology has brought huge changes to learning. Through podcasting and video streaming of lectures, students have the opportunity to learn in their own homes in a setting that is comfortable and conducive to their learning styles.
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Richard D. Waters, Ph.D.
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Researching and Teaching a Strategic Approach to Public Relations and Nonprofit Management while Maintaining a Sense of Fun and Adventure |