Karen L. Schermerhorn

Education

MA, University of Hartford

BSBA, Western New England University

Certificate in Positive Psychology, The Flourishing Center

Karen has been teaching for the School of Communication since 2005. In her current role she teaches introductory communication courses, as well as courses in media studies, including media literacy, popular culture and women and the media. She teaches, encourages and empowers students to be effective, attentive and confident communicators and to become critical consumers of media and engaged citizens who utilize emergent media to give voice to their ideas, opinions and passions. Her academic and research interests include gender communication and critical media studies with a focus on examining issues of social justice and representations of public health issues, sexuality, beauty, power and gender in popular culture.

As an Academic Advisor, she employs developmental and holistic advising skills, in addition to the practical application of positive psychology research and tools, to assist and encourage students to maximize their educational opportunities, explore their passions and interests, gain confidence in their abilities and become resilient and forward-focused in the pursuit of their professional and personal goals. She also volunteers as a Sexual Assault Survivor Advocate and Violence Prevention Educator on campus and is committed to supporting students' well-being and to helping them to make positive and healthy lifestyle choices essential to their personal growth and development and life satisfaction.