Communication Studies Teaching Assistants 2022-2023
Arianna Bloom
arianna.bloom@my.metrostate.edu
Arianna Bloom holds a B.A. in Communication Studies with a focus on Professional Communications from Metropolitan State University. She has experience in conflict resolution where she found an interest in teaching. She is currently working on her M.A. in Communication Studies from Minnesota State University, Mankato. She is especially passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion work. Her current role as a Graduate Teaching Assistant has not only expanded her interest in teaching but has made her especially excited to apply DE&I values in the academic world. She wants to dedicate whatever she does to support and benefit marginalized communities.
Lake Davis
Hello! My name is Lake Davis. I have an A.A. from Minneapolis Community College and a B.A. in Communication Studies from Augsburg University in Minneapolis. As an aspiring Communication researcher, I get excited thinking about how culture and ideology shape our daily communication. I'm especially fascinated by the ways people talk about gender and sexuality. In my current role as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, I've found a passion for teaching and having important conversations with students about communication, activism, and identity. Feel free to reach out to me!
Sydney Dumond
Sydney Dumond has a B.A. in organizational communication studies from Winona State University. While at WSU, Sydney also minored in both women’s gender and zexuality studies as well as child advocacy studies. They are currently working towards their M.A. in communication studies. Sydney’s role as a graduate teaching assistant for the communication studies department has helped them to realize their passion for teaching. Sydney’s academic interests include interpersonal communication and political communication.
Rekereke Evuleocha
Reke Evuleocha is currently studying communication studies (M.S.) at Minnesota State University, Mankato. She has more than six years of in-depth work experience in customer service working in the telecommunications industry. She is a service-oriented and positive-minded person who believes in applying her best in everything. She is skilled in coordinating activities. She also serves as a leader with Bridges Mankato, a faith-based student organization that caters to international students on campus. Reke hopes to diversify her career in the corporate world and in human resources using her degree, after graduation. She loves traveling, watching movies, and working out.
Vanessa Folwer
Vanessa Fowler is a first-year graduate student in the Master of Forensics Arts program and working as teaching sssistant for the Maverick Forensics Speech and Debate Team. She graduated from Berry College in Rome Ga with a B.A. in Communication: Digital Storytelling, spent four years on the forensics team there and has three years of student coaching experience. Vanessa adores public speaking and wants to help students find their voices and speak on things important to them.
Sari Halabi
Sari Halabi earned a B.S. in international business and a minor in marketing. He is currently pursuing his M.S. in communication studies and a graduate certificate in Business Leadership. Sari is also a graduate assistant for the Department of Communication Studies where he teaches public speaking. After graduation, Sari wants to pursue a career in consulting or human resources.
Md Rejaul Haque
Md Rejaul Haque holds a B.S.S and M.S.S in government and politics from Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh. Now, he is pursuing his M.A. in Communication Studies at Minnesota State University, Mankato. He has more than 12 years of experience in the journalism field as a reporter. He was a top business reporter in Bangladesh, mostly covering the country’s graft-ridden banking and financial sector with some of the most hard-hitting investigative reports. Rejaul is interested in obtaining a Ph.D. in Communication with the goal of teaching politics, media, and communication at a university.
Sofia Hylen
Sofia Hylen is a second-year GTA and M.S. in Communication Studies student at Minnesota State University, Mankato. She holds a B.A. in Communication Studies from Gustavus Adolphus College. She has worked in several corporate and small-business Human Resources roles and enjoys applying her experiences in these environments to interpersonal and organizational communication research. She is interested in studying communicative assertiveness in the workplace, labor-focused online forum communities, and employee criticisms of organizational labor practices. As a GTA, she enjoys helping students from all backgrounds to overcome communication anxiety and develop confidence in their interpersonal and public communication skills to prepare them to successfully enter and advance in the workplace.
Isaac Kwasi-Ofori
Shannon Lee
Shannon is currently a graduate teaching assistant for the communication department. She received a B.A. in Communication Studies with a minor of Non-Profit Leadership from the University of North Dakota. Shannon has always been interested in a variety of communication fields. Working as a TA allows Shannon to delve into her teaching interests, but she is also very interested in areas like organizational communication and interpersonal communication. Outside of the academic world, Shannon will use any excuse to travel and is a big fan of car karaoke.
Grayce Limpert
Grayce is currently a graduate student at Minnesota State Mankato pursuing an M.A. in Communication Studies. She also received her undergraduate degree in Communication Studies and Psychology from Minnesota State Mankato. Grayce is interested in studying the relationship between communication and politics. She has served on political campaigns in communications and policy research positions and recently led communications for a non-profit organization. She also spent time in college tutoring middle and high school students in the Twin Cities. Grayce is interested in obtaining a Ph.D. in Mass Communication with the goal of teaching politics, media and communication at a college or university. Outside of school, Grayce enjoys snowboarding, playing guitar, Taekwondo and spending time with her family.
Ahsley McGee
Ashley McGee is currently a communication studies graduate student at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Her research interests include media culture, online communities, and social identity. Ashley aspires to pursue a Ph.D., continue teaching, or work in higher education upon graduation. She is a proud first-generation student and former McNair Scholar. Outside of school, Ashley enjoys painting and learning about art.
Sofia Martinez
Douglas Roberts
Esther Son
Esther Son earned an M.A. in Communication Studies at Yonsei University in South Korea. She also received her undergraduate degree in communication and cultures at Hannam University from South Korea. She has been working as a researcher at National Youth Policy Institute for two years. She is interested in studying mass media, communication, and politics. She enjoys working with students. Her goal is to teach communication at a college or university after obtaining a Ph.D. in mass communication.
Tennisha Sonsalla
Macy Thurler
Macy Thurler earned a B.A. in Communication Studies from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh in 2021. She is currently pursuing her M.s. in Communication in hopes of teaching public speaking at the community college level. She is beyond excited to be able to teach Communication Studies courses alongside taking graduate level coursework. She has four years of tour guide experience along with three years of experience as a peer mentor. Macy focuses on encouraging an inclusive and enthusiastic classroom environment and becomes overjoyed when she sees her students improving in their public speaking abilities. Her three favorite things in the world are cats, warm weather and teaching!
Gaudence Uwamahoro
Gaudence is currently a graduate student in Communication Studies and Education Technology. She earned her MA degree in Teaching English as the Second Language and a teaching license in French and English areas from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Gaudence also holds an undergraduate degree in French-English Education from National University of Rwanda. She taught French and ESL for more than 13 years and is now teaching a communication class as a GTA. Gaudence is very passionate about second language and communication pedagogy, and she uses her technology skills to help my students become active learners as they engage with the material they are learning. Gaudence's future goal is to pursue a doctorate program in one of the fields in which she has been involved.
Caleb Webb
Caleb attended undergrad at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire earning a Bachelor of Science in organizational communication and a minor in sociology. He has been in forensics for more than a decade, coaching at Memorial High School for three years as well as the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. His focus is on equity in performance spaces and creating an environment in which students can find their voices and passions.
