Wilson-Brown adds new dimensions to PR courses in College of Media

Carrie Wilson-Brown returned to campus this fall as a lecturer in the Department of Media & Cinema Studies and the Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising. She previously attended the College of Media’s Institute of Communications Research as a graduate candidate in 1993 through 1999.

This semester, she is teaching new courses in Public Relations and Entertainment Industry, Becoming an Influencer, and Intro to Public Relations. 

“I couldn’t be more honored to join the advertising and media and cinema studies faculties,” Wilson-Brown said. “This dual appointment gives me an opportunity to mentor students with varied media interests and a strong academic focus.” 

Wilson-Brown said she is looking forward to connecting with digital-savvy students who are already comfortable creating social media content daily, which is an invaluable skill for those interested in influencer marketing and entertainment public relations.

She plans to develop and teach additional courses that fuse digital storytelling, video production, and public relations. 

“I always strive to put classroom content into practice by creating course materials that aid academic discovery and community engagement,” Wilson-Brown said. “I want to expose students to the dynamism of public relations and content creation.” 

Since 2001, she had been a faculty member at Eastern Illinois University where she received teaching honors including Outstanding Faculty Member. 

Wilson-Brown received her bachelor’s and master’s from Eastern Illinois University, both with a focus on speech communication, and worked towards her doctorate at the University of Illinois concentrating on film and media studies, cultural studies, critical race studies, and Latina/o studies. 

—Da Yeon Eom, Communications and Marketing Intern