Get to Know the SoC’s Newest Faculty for Fall 2024
Communication Studies
Rhonda Trust, Ph.D.
Lecturer in the Department of Communication Studies
Fall 2024 Courses:
- COS 210 Writing for Communication Studies
- COS 211 Public Speaking
- COS 355 Applied Communication Research Methods
Q: Where are you originally from?
A: I grew up in Boston, Mass. After graduating from college I moved to Florida, California, Connecticut, then back to sunny South Florida where I feel most at home!
Q: Can you tell us a bit about your research interests?
A: I hold a Ph.D. in Communication with a Health Communication focus. I've always been interested in researching various health issues from an intercultural perspective. Currently, I have a special interest and expertise in nutrition and dietetics, and I prefer to conduct research in that arena. I also believe in becoming involved with the Miami community, and plan to conduct research with various non-profit health organizations within the city of Miami. Additionally, I integrate health based community service projects into my courses.
Q: What are you most looking forward to about being part of the University of Miami community?
A: I am overjoyed about being a part of the UM 'Cane community. I look forward to working collaboratively with my colleagues in and out of my discipline. I look forward to inspiring and empowering my students to pursue their academic and professional goals. I am also excited about the many opportunities within the UM community. I have already felt the warm welcome and I look forward to the future at the U!
Q: What's a fun fact about yourself?
A: I am running my 4th Miami half marathon in February. I began running half- marathons a few years ago and really enjoy it. I also inspire others to do so as well, since I am a health & nutrition coach. I also love spending time at the beach and cooking with my 3 children, husband and two dogs!
: Bella Rosa Productions
Interactive Media
Anna Queiroz, Ph.D.
Associate Professor in the Department of Interactive Media
Fall 2024 Course:
- CIM 458/658 Immersive Storytelling
Q: Where are you originally from?
A: I'm originally from Brazil. I was born in Rio de Janeiro and grew up in Foz do Iguaçu, where I could explore the beauty of the Iguazu Falls. I lived in São Paulo for a couple of years, then moved to Boston in 2012. Since then, I've been living in the U.S., the last 11 years in California and about 2 weeks now in Miami!
Q: How do you integrate real-world industry insights into your teaching?
A: I'm interested in the psychology of immersive and interactive media. How we communicate, learn, behave, and process information while going through immersive and interactive experiences. I've been conducting large-scale research and social impact projects in different countries, bringing VR to museums, aquariums, and schools. These projects put me in constant touch with the industry—from selecting hardware to developing immersive experiences. I bring what I've been learning in these projects to the classroom, coupling it with the literature and research.
Q: What are you most looking forward to about being part of the University of Miami community?
A: I'm looking forward to interacting with the brilliant colleagues and students, and learning from their experience, perspectives, and willingness to make a positive change. Also, I'm eager to contribute to the intellectual climate by collaborating on research, teaching, and service initiatives at UM. Finally, I can't wait to make great friends in the UM community.
Q: What's a fun fact about yourself?
A: I'm one of the 8 Annas in my family. My mom named my sister and me Anna to celebrate the ship that brought her from the Czech Republic to Brazil, escaping World War II. Coincidentally, my husband's sister and cousin are Ana too! After my mom's passing, my sister and I each had two baby girls, and we named them Anna to honor my mom. You can imagine the chaos when we all travel together. The airline companies always get confused at check-in with several "Anna Queiroz" on the same flight.
Christine Euihyun Jung
Lecturer in the Department of Interactive Media
Fall 2024 Courses:
- CIM 102 Interaction Design
- CIM 204 Introduction to Game Design
- CIM 203 Introduction to Creative Coding
Q: Where are you originally from?
A: I was born and raised in South Korea. I achieved an undergraduate degree in Art & Technology and Psychology at Sogang University and pursued my master’s degree in Entertainment Technology at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. If you are interested in Korean food, I am an expert!
Q: How do you integrate real-world industry insights into your teaching?
A: I integrate real-world industry insights into my teaching by applying my professional experience and network in the 3D and technical art fields. I design coursework that mirrors real-world projects, encouraging students to solve practical problems and collaborate as they would in a professional setting. This hands-on approach helps students develop the skills and mindset needed to thrive in the industry.
Q: What are you most looking forward to about being part of the University of Miami community?
A: I am most looking forward to the vibrant community at the University of Miami. The collaborative spirit and innovative environment here are incredibly inspiring. I am excited to engage with talented colleagues and students, contribute to cutting-edge projects, and be part of a community that values creativity and interdisciplinary learning.
Q: What's a fun fact about yourself?
A: Have you ever heard that Koreans love iced coffee? That is absolutely true! I love coffee, especially iced Americanos. If you know any fabulous local coffee shops, please let me know! Let’s have a coffee time 
Journalism and Media Management
Ayleen Cabas-Mijares, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor in the Department of Journalism and Media Management
Fall 2024 Course:
- JMM 592/692 Special Topics in Journalism and Media Management: Reporting for Social Justice
Q: Where are you originally from?
A: I'm from Venezuela.
Q: Can you tell us a bit about your research interests?
A: I am a critical/cultural scholar examining the impact of minoritized people (our bodies, our ways of knowing, our practices) on journalism and media more broadly. I use transnational feminist theories to understand the intersectional power dynamics that shape media institutions and content. I also have an interest in the media strategies of social movements and most of my work focuses on Latin America. I study this with two goals in mind. First, to give due recognition to the work of activists, marginalized people, and folks from the Global South. Second, to put the lessons from these constituencies to good use and improve journalism's ability to support democracy and human rights.
Q: What are you most looking forward to about being part of the University of Miami community?
A: The U's Department of Journalism and Media Management is entering a quite exciting chapter with its new chair and faculty. The department's existing foundation is solid and with the growing team we can further establish this program as an example of how to teach and do journalism that is courageous, rigorous, engaged, and empowering. I also respect the hemispheric projection of the university: In an interconnected world and a global city like Miami, it would be small minded to reduce your sphere of influence to your immediate surroundings. The care for the region shows true vision by the university.
Q: What's a fun fact about yourself?
A: I have no poker face!
David Weinert, Ph.D.
Senior Lecturer in the Department of Journalism and Media Management
Fall 2024 Courses:
- COM 250 Freedom of Expression and Communication Ethics
- JMM 303 Communication Law and Policy
- JMM 305 Legal Issues in Media Management
Q: Where are you originally from?
A: Detroit, Michigan (The Motor City)
Q: Can you tell us a bit about your research interests?
A: My current research and passion is informed largely by the First Amendment, mass communication law, and, employing legal research methodology, Federal Communications Commission regulation of radio and television broadcast content. In brief, I have monitored closely the governmental oversight of broadcast content since the landmark 1978 FCC v. Pacifica Foundation case, followed by the Howard Stern drama in the late 1980s, through the Janet Jackson Super Bowl event in 2004, and the FCC v. Fox Television Stations case before the U.S. Supreme Court in 2012. Needless to say, academics studying free speech and media content, within the framework of the First Amendment, are engulfed in an exciting and evolving time as technology and the digital revolution continue to change the overall media landscape.
Q: What are you most looking forward to about being part of the University of Miami community?
A: I look forward to working with the students in my classes. I want to motivate and encourage our UM students to learn. If I’m able to show them the importance of learning, they’ll grow as students and individuals. I’m also excited about working with the new and veteran faculty in the School of Communication, and the School of Law. Working alongside faculty with various backgrounds, experiences, and achievements allows me to grow as an educator. Indeed, as an educator, I’ve found that learning never stops (which is a good thing).
Q: What's a fun fact about yourself?
A: When I did my full-time radio show at KCBS-FM/Los Angeles, Charlie Sheen and Jay Leno were regular callers to my radio show. As just a kid from Detroit, this was incredibly fun and exciting for me! And at WWBR-FM/Detroit, I worked with musical recording artist Ted Nugent.
Rachel Mourão, Ph.D.
Associate Professor in the Department of Journalism and Media Management
Fall 2024 Course:
- JMM 433/633 Social Media
Q: Where are you originally from?
A: I'm from Manaus, the capital of the Brazilian Amazon state.
Q: Can you tell us a bit about your research interests?
A: I study how news narratives about politics, especially social movements, and their backlash counterparts, are constructed and consumed and how journalism can improve in an era of social inequality, declining media trust, and fragmented political communication. I focus on three questions:
1. How are political news, especially those related to protests, shaped by various influences?
2. How do media fragmentation and technological disruption challenge the creation and consumption of political news?
3. What role do journalism research and practice play in addressing these complex societal issues?
Q: What are you most looking forward to about being part of the University of Miami community?
A: When I first met your campus community during the campus interview, I knew the University of Miami would be the right place for me. The faculty and students welcomed me with open arms, and I was impressed with your commitment to global journalism and social justice. I'm excited to expand my collaborations with global scholars and students, especially in Latin America. I am also looking forward to working with the Journalism, M.A. program.
Q: What's a fun fact about yourself?
A: Even though I teach and study media literacy and know the problem of information overload, I'm very addicted to YouTube content. One of my favorite parts of teaching the social media seminar is having students suggest more channels and creators to binge-watch. I call it "research for class," so my family won't judge me.
Strategic Communication
Daniel Timiraos
Lecturer in the Department of Strategic Communication
Fall 2024 Courses:
- STC 231 Creative Advertising Concepts and Copywriting
- STC 233 Writing for Advertising Account Management
- STC 304 Project Management for Strategic Communication
- STC 384 Advertising Creative Strategy and Execution
Q: Where are you originally from?
A: My parents were Cuban and I am originally from Miami, Florida. My roots are deeply connected to this vibrant city, where I’ve spent my career and life, soaking in the diverse culture and dynamic energy that Miami offers.
Q: How do you integrate real-world industry insights into your teaching?
A: With over 25 years of experience in the advertising and marketing industry, I bring a wealth of practical knowledge into the classroom. I integrate real-world industry insights by sharing case studies from my professional experiences, particularly in areas like strategic marketing, brand development, and creative execution. My approach is hands-on, encouraging students to engage in projects that mirror the challenges they will face in the industry. I also keep the curriculum updated with the latest trends and tools in digital strategy, ensuring that students are well-prepared for the evolving landscape of communication and marketing.
Q: What are you most looking forward to about being part of the University of Miami community?
A: As a proud alumnus of the University of Miami, I am excited to return as a faculty member. I look forward to contributing to the vibrant academic community and helping shape the next generation of strategic communicators. Being part of an institution that values innovation, diversity, and excellence aligns perfectly with my professional ethos. I am particularly eager to collaborate with fellow faculty members and mentor students, guiding them as they navigate their academic and professional journeys.
Q: What's a fun fact about yourself?
A: A fun fact about me is that I am an avid photographer who loves capturing images of my family as they go about their lives. A colleague once suggested that my kids have the most well-documented childhood ever! I enjoy capturing both the big special moments and the little everyday moments that we tend to forget. To me, our memories define our lives, and photography is a powerful way to express and preserve those memories.
Ian Mavorah
Managing Director at Orange Umbrella
Fall 2024 Course:
- COM 302 Structured Research and Practice at SoC Consultancy
Q: Where are you originally from?
A: Brooklyn, New York
Q: How do you integrate real-world industry insights into your teaching?
A: I'm all about engagement, whether it's sharing my professional journey with students, inviting guest speakers from the industry, presenting relevant case studies or empowering students to interact with clients and consumers. But as we all know, there's no better learning than doing. And that's exactly what our student-professionals do at Orange Umbrella, the University of Miami's premier student-run advertising agency. They let insights guide their strategic creative thinking and collaborate with real clients on real projects. It doesn't get any more real-world than that.
Q: What are you most looking forward to about being part of the University of Miami community?
A: Being a University of Miami alum, having graduated from the SoC in 1993, I'm looking forward to coming back to where it all started for me and feeling that awesome sense of community and pride in being a 'Cane. 
Q: What's a fun fact about yourself?
A: I have a little bit of an obsession with HOKA sneakers. Love the product and the brand.
Jeongwon Yang, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor in the Department of Strategic Communication
Fall 2024 Course:
- STC423/STC623 Crisis Communication and Management
Q: Where are you originally from?
A: I am originally from Seoul, South Korea
Q: Can you tell us a bit about your research interests?
A: My research interests primarily lie in what triggers persuasion and what roles emerging media play in facilitating the persuasion process. My specializations include crisis communication, CSR, and online mis/disinformation. I primarily explored individuals’ information behaviors and reactions on social media from a receiver-oriented approach to persuasion. From a producer-oriented approach to persuasion, I delved into message framing, crisis strategies, and source credibility of the communicators. My current line of research investigates the potentials of social media influencers (SMI) as effective CSR communicators by comparing the consumer reactions toward Black Lives Matter messages, endorsed by SMIs and brands. I am currently exploring the roles of SMI as endorsers for elevating authenticity in climate change messaging.
Q: What are you most looking forward to about being part of the University of Miami community?
A: I’m excited to connect with people from different backgrounds by being a part of the UM community. I believe the warm, welcoming culture at UM would help me grow both personally and academically.
Q: What's a fun fact about yourself?
A: I started raising a cat this summer while I was in Korea!
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