EDUCATION  & ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS

PhD in Trans-Disciplinary Documentary Film, Department of Literatures, Languages and Cultures, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom, 2018. Supervisors: Dr. David Sorfa, Dr. Sharon Cowan, PhD: “Liminal States, Invisible Acts: Forced Labor, Trauma and the Human Trafficking Survivor in the UK”

Master of Arts in Journalism, Department of Media and Communications, Goldsmiths College, University of London, London, United Kingdom

Master of Arts in American Literature, Department of Literature, Film and Theatre Studies, University of Essex, Colchester, United Kingdom

Bachelor of Arts in English, Department of English, University of California, Davis, CA

High School Diploma, James Logan High School Union City, CA, 4.0

ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS

Assistant Professor in Journalism, Director of Programmes for MA Journalism, Journalism and Media Discipline, University of Galway, Rm 302, Arts and Science Building, University of Galway Ireland University Rd, Galway, Ireland

This position is responsible for the instruction, communication and leadership in the Journalism and Global Media Disciplines in the Department of English and Creative Arts at the University of Galway. Courses taught include Journalism Bootcamp, Multimedia Journalism, Investigative Journalism, Alternative Media Systems and the Global South, Digital Media and Production, and Multimedia Newsdays, an advanced multimedia live newsroom studio course for postgraduate journalism students. Develops course curriculum, engages in service, communication strategies and develops cross-departmental works. Currently Programme Director the MA in Journalism and previously interim BA Director for Journalism at the University of Galway since January 2024. 

Lecturer in Journalism, Journalism Program, English Department, 230 Hamilton Smith Hall, University of New Hampshire, 95 Main Street, Durham, New Hampshire, January 2022- Present

This position is responsible for instruction in the journalism program in the Department of English, College of Liberal Arts, University of New Hampshire. Courses taught include Advanced Journalism (Social Issues), Digital Reporting (Multimedia Journalism), 21st Century Journalism and First-Year Honors Composition to undergraduate students. Developed course curriculum, engages in service, and develops cross-departmental events, such as work with the Carsey School of Public Policy and the UNH Sustainability Institute. Recent speaker invitations for fall 2022 include the Solutions Journalism Network and to the NH Association of Conservation Commissions on reporting climate change to communities.

Professor of the Practice - Journalism School of Communication and Journalism, 217 Tichenor Hall, Auburn University, AL 36849, August 2020 - Present

This position was responsible for instruction and service in the School of Communication and Journalism. Courses taught include Literary Journalism, Journalism Fundamentals, Visual Communication, Newswriting and Reporting to undergraduate students. Developed course curriculum, engages in service committees, and develops panelists for Journalism Day held in October. Ongoing projects include working with the Innovation & Research Commons - Auburn University Library to develop a VR/Haptic module for training student journalist in protest and high-risk scenarios.

Assistant Professor of Journalism, College of Media, Communication and Information, University of Colorado Boulder, 478 UCB, Armory, 1511 University Ave, Boulder, CO 80309-0478, August 2016 – Dec 2018

This position was responsible for research, creative practice and instruction in the Department of Journalism within the College of Media, Communication and Information. Instruction course load includes teaching theory and practice-based investigative and multimedia newsroom production in the multimillion Scripps-funded, award-winning course NewsCorps (UG and PG), as well as teaching Advanced Reporting, TV reporting, Documentary Film and Social Issues, and NewsTeam, an advanced multimedia live newsroom studio course for undergraduate students. The role also required extensive internship supervisory roles, public engagement service projects including conference conception and organizing, and a large portfolio of research.

Lecturer – Investigative Journalism in Print and Film, Centre for Open Learning, University of Edinburgh, Room G23, Paterson’s Land, EH8 8AQ, April-May 2016

The course provided an intensive five-week introduction to the field of investigative journalism through lectures, screenings and classroom discussion. Workshop-style writing and investigative skills training were mixed with discussions, film screenings and lectures, alongside peer-to-peer collaboration, teamwork and critique.

Lecturer – Documentary Film Research & Production, University of Edinburgh, School of Social and Political Science, Chrystal

Macmillan Building, 15a George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9LD, Sept 2014 – Nov 2014

Workshop co-convener for Social Films, an interactive ten-week workshop for postgraduate SSPS students at the University of Edinburgh, aimed at providing early career researchers with the skills to communicate to the general public through films.

Lecturer – University of Edinburgh, School of Social and Political Science, Chrystal Macmillan Building, 15a George Square & School of Law, Old College, Edinburgh Oct 2014 – Nov 2014

Guest lecturer for undergraduate students in the School of Social and Political Science

– The Sociology of Intoxication and the Edinburgh Law School – Asylum and Refugee Law and Policy. Lectures included the Globalization of the Drugs Trafficking Trade and Asylum and Human Trafficking, The Case for Protection.

Papers, Panels, Journals and Academic Conferences

Panelist, Understanding Impact: Distinguishing Between Advocacy and Journalism”, April 19th, 2022

Organizer/Moderator, “Communicating Climate Change in New Hampshire,” University of New Hampshire, April 12th, 2022

Organizer/Moderator, “Reporting Reproductive Rights”, Journalism Day, Auburn University, November 2021

Panelist, “Addressing Equity and Diversity in the Academic Sector,” Auburn University, October 2021

Panelist, “Telling Difficult Stories”, webcast, Threshold World, June 2021

Panel Organizer/Moderator, “Journalism Safety in Public Protests”, Auburn University Journalism Day, October 2020

Panelist and Presenter, Journalism Q & A for prospective j-majors, Auburn University, Fall 2020/Spring 2021

Advisor, Students Against Human Trafficking – Auburn University, 2020-2021

Journal: Electronic News Review, "Book Review: The Basics of Media Writing: A Strategic Approach by Scott A. Kuehn and Andrew Lingwall" (2018)

Journal: University of Oxford, 'Global Perspectives on Human Rights: Oxford Human Rights Hub 2012-13' (e-book and print publication):

•       “Scotland’s Answer to Modern-Day Slavery” (March 2014)

•       “New Bill Shifts Focus to Survivors of Human Trafficking” (October 2013)

•       “The Hidden Face of Forced Labour in Britain” (February 2013)

•       “Human Trafficking in Scotland” (February 2013)

Conference Organizer, University of Colorado Conference: “Rights, Wrongs and Responsibilities: Reporting Race in Today’s America”, March 2018, Diversity and Excellence Grant Awarded. $3,000.

Conference Organizer, University of Colorado Conference: “Reporting in the Age of Alternative Facts”, April 2017

University of Dayton Conference: “The Social Practice of Human Rights”, paper: “Out of the Prison and On to the Street: The Trafficking of Incarcerated Women, a Trans- Disciplinary Research Project”, Nov 2017

University of Oregon: Conference: “What is Life?” Paper: Elegant Ecologies, Cross-Community Storytelling for Public Service Journalism”, April 2017

Presenter, University of Colorado Conference: “Public Engagement and the Media”, Media Studies Symposium, April 2017

Panelist, University of Colorado Media Showcase Event: “Cross-collaborative Transmedia Storytelling”, March 2017

Panelist, Media Live, Boulder, CO, May 2017

Panelist, Conference on World Affairs: “Protecting the Most Vulnerable”, April 2017

Moderator, Conference on World Affairs: “What the US can learn from my Country”, April 2017, Panelist, University of Colorado Colloquium: “Women of CMCI”, Feb 2017

Keynote Speaker, Panelist “Modern Slavery: Are We Complicit?” Fairtrade Fortnight, Department for Social Responsibility and Sustainability, University of Edinburgh, February 2016

Glasgow Human Rights Network Conference, “Challenges to Human Rights, Theories and Practice”. Paper: Trauma, Trafficking and Documentary Film – Explorations in Ethics, May 2015

University of Paris Conference “Producing Knowledge on Migration”. Paper: Migration, Exploitation and Ethics: Negotiating the Invisible in the Human Trafficking Documentary, May 2015

University of Ghent Conference “Human Rights and the Mobilization of Testimony” Paper: Testimony as Judge, Memory as Witness: Trauma and the Human Trafficking Survivor, June 2015

European Cinema and Research Forum Conference, University of Edinburgh, Literatures, Languages and Cultures Department, Paper: “Liminal States, Invisible Acts: Forced Labour and the Politics of Slavery in Modern-Day Britain” with current doc clip screenings, July 2013

Panelist, "The Business of Traffic in Humans", Workshop, The Foundation for Law, Justice and Society, University of Oxford, May 2014

Panelist, The Edinburgh Peace Initiative Cultural Film Program Panel Discussion, Human Trafficking and Slavery, May 2013

SCHOLARSHIPS, AWARDS AND APPEARANCES

·       TedX Speaker – Galway, 2024

·       Moderator, Galway International Film Festival, “What’s On the Telly?”

·       Judge, British Awards in Film and Television (BAFTA) – Category - Current Affairs, March 2022

•       Guardian Newspaper, G200 Recognition, “The Trap”, May 2021

•       Investigative Reporters and Editors Mentor, 2017-2024

•       US Senate Building, Human Trafficking Briefing, Screening “The Trap”, US Senator, Sherrod Brown, Jan 11, 2018

•       The Story Podcast, The Guardian: “The Trap: “A Tale of Human Trafficking” The Story Podcast: https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2018/aug/17/the-trap-tale-of-human-trafficking-the-story-podcast, July 2018

•       KGNU Radio Metro, Boulder, Denver : “The Trap” Trafficking Women out of US prisons and Jails with Mei-Ling McNamara” http://news.kgnu.org/2018/06/the-trap-trafficking-women-out-of-us-prisons-and-jails/ , June 2018

•       Observer/Guardian “Observer and Guardian Wins Anti-Slavery Awards” https://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/oct/18/annie-kelly-mei-ling-mcnamara-award-article-slavery , Oct 2015

•       BBC Scotland segment, “Slavery in Scotland”, Mei-Ling McNamara, September 2015

•       AL Jazeera English interview “Madagascar Coup”, November 2010

•       CU Diversity Excellence Fund, $3,000 for CU Boulder j-conference, “Reporting Race in Today’s America”, April 2018

•       Best Investigative Piece on Human Trafficking, Anti-Slavery Awards 2015, London) The Guardian: “3,000 children enslaved in Britain after being trafficked from Vietnam,” Feature, The Guardian, 23 May 2015, including video

•       Best TV Documentary, “Children of the Cannabis Trade”, Al-Jazeera English, Human Trafficking Foundation Media Awards, November 2011 (Producer/Director)

•       Highly Commended, “Boeing – On a Wing and a Prayer”, Al-Jazeera English, Association of International Broadcasters; shortlisted - “Best Historical Documentary”- Grierson Awards, December 2010  (AP/Researcher)

•       Discover Dominica Photo Contest Winner, Matador Travel – 2009

•       Rotary Academic-Year Ambassadorial Scholarship Award winner, 2008

•       Solas Awards Gold Winner, Travellers’ Tales, Best Travel Writing, Travel and Transformation Category, March 2007

•       Bursary, Outstanding Academic Achievement - James Logan High School, 2003