The Donald W. Reynolds School of Journalism at the University of Nevada, Reno recently hired two new assistant professors of electronic media; Stephanie Bor and Kari Barber. The professors officially began their new roles on Aug. 26.
“Stephanie and Kari are wonderful additions to The Reynolds School,” Dean Al Stavitsky said. “They bring a range of great experiences, multimedia savvy and will help boost our research productivity.”
Bor earned her doctorate degree in communication from the University of Utah in 2013; master’s of arts degree in mass communications from California State University, Chico, in 2010; and a bachelor’s of arts degree in film and media studies from University of California, Santa Barbara, in 2007.
Her research examines new media and political communication. She explores how the media, politicians, and citizens use the Internet and other digital technologies for the purposes of political persuasion and discussion.
“I am excited my career in higher education has brought me to Nevada,” she said. “The University has a positive and inspirational climate that will support my mission to make meaningful contributions to students’ lives and society more broadly.”
Barber is a journalist and documentary filmmaker with a master’s of fine arts degree in filmmaking and electronic media from American University in Washington, D.C. and a bachelor’s of arts degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma.
She’s worked internationally as a freelance journalist in Southeast Asia and West and Central Africa where she reported for international media organizations including the Voice of America, Associated Press Television News, Marie Claire magazine, Reuters news agency, France 24, the United Nations humanitarian news analysis site IRIN, and The Christian Science Monitor. As a journalist she traveled to nearly a dozen African countries producing radio, television and multimedia reports on topics including dissident bloggers, government human rights abuses, presidential elections, civil conflicts, art, sports, oil unrest and economic growth. She also worked in Sierra Leone as a media trainer for the organization Journalists for Human Rights.
In 2009, Barber returned to the United States to live in Washington, D.C. where she worked as a researcher and reporter for two documentaries for the premier PBS public affairs show Frontline.
Her current work includes a transmedia web social history project and documentary film about historical all-black towns that formed after the Civil War in her home state of Oklahoma during an unrealized effort to make it the first all-black state.
“I’m really excited about growing and further developing the School’s relationships with the community and with professional media organizations through the broadcast classes I’ll be teaching,” Barber said. “I know for the students, there is nothing more exciting than getting these kinds of real-world experiences, and the Reynolds School is really making that happen.”
