As a scholar-teacher I integrate research, teaching and practice in media. I aim to support students from diverse backgrounds as they evolve into practitioners of media and communication through application and innovation. Through a qualitative and narrative lens, I seek to understand the actions and interactions of public relations practitioners and journalists in crisis and disaster situations. I use communication ecology to examine these relationships and build theory using textual analysis, surveys, and interviews. My research focuses primarily on the role of strategic communicators and journalists in shaping crisis and disaster preparation and response. My work had been published in journals including American Behavioral Scientist, Disasters, Journalism Practice, and Journalism Studies. My work provides insight into how diverse groups of people respond to science communication and disaster information. I plan to continue to submit my research to grants in these areas, and to top-tier and interdisciplinary journals.