Elise Balin
A Florida native who has planted her roots in Laramie, Wyoming said she aims to equip students and the public alike with a valuable toolbox of media literacy skills.
Kristen Landreville, an associate professor and director of graduate studies for the University of Wyoming’s communication and journalism department puts great emphasis on media and modern-day life.
With a doctorate (PhD) degree in communication, a masters (MA) degree in mass communication and a bachelor of science (BS) degree in journalism, she draws great attention to the importance of understanding media as a whole.
Fake news is an issue in our society that Landreville said she aims to tackle by informing the public. She focuses some of her research work on public outreach and she addresses things we can do to be more media literate. Landreville said she believes the ability to recognize the different types of media and journalism is a valuable skill for the public to have.
“It is important to understand what makes a good news source and to recognize that we bring our own identities to our media consumption,” Landreville said.
She puts her extensive knowledge to use when she is instructing her students in her most frequently taught class, multimedia production. Landreville said she likes to think of her multimedia production class as a bootcamp for media platforms, that covers a broad-spectrum of the industry. She said she takes great pride in the tools she is able to equip her students with that can apply to many careers they may have in the future.
Landreville’s interest in media and journalism did not begin until her college years, after she experienced the excitement of politics in her home state of Florida at a young age. After she observed the 2000 presidential election, she discovered the passion she has for media and news. Landreville then took the initiative to change her degree and focus from microbiology to journalism.
After finishing her BS and MA degree at the University of Florida, she moved onto completing her PhD at Ohio State. As she has built up her education and experience, she said it has paid off in her research and teaching endeavors.
Landreville said she does not only love educating and the research that comes along with it, but also being a supportive parent.
Amongst her busy schedule, she is involved with her daughter’s Girl Scouts troops and takes on the role of being a troop leader. She said she believes Laramie was a great decision and is exactly where she needs to be for her career and to raise her family.
