Amber K Gee , BA, English Literature, MA Communication

As a Communication graduate student in 2001, Professor Amber Gee began teaching Effective Public Speaking and has been teaching ever since. A member of the adjunct faculty since 2004, Professor Gee teaches public relations and business communication courses.

She has co-authored a public speaking instructor's manual and a journal article on the New Hampshire primary, which she attended in 2008.  

Amber has served the Department of Communication as assistant speech course director, Interim speech course director, PR Writing course director, co-director of the Alice M. House Speech Contest, Committiee chair of the Teaahing and Community Groups. She now serves as the Director of Social Media and Promotions - the only faculty member in A&S to serve in such a role. 

Occasionally, she writes as a freelance journalist for local papers. Her interests include: public relations, public speaking, teaching improvement, online teaching, writing and political communication. Professor Gee is a two time graduate of UC receiving her BA in English Literature (2000) and MA in Communication (2004).

MA: University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH, 2004 (Communication)

Graduate Professional Writing Certificate: University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH, 2004

BA: University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH, 2000 (English Literature)

• Public Relations Writing
• Social Media Education
• Experiential Learning
• Online Teaching
• Public and Professional Speaking
• Business Communication
• Academic Advising
• Political Communication
• Teaching improvement
• On and off campus public speaking training
• Freelance writing

02-08-2008 -To Present Freelance Writer, Freelance writer for Cincinnati area community press papers writing feature stories about neighborhood happenings as assigned when their budget allows, Community Press Papers, Cincinnati, OH

09-01-2009 -08-01-2012 Adjunct Assistant Professor, AAUP, •Instructor for speech, public relations and other courses as needed by the department •Teaching duties include: •choosing and presenting material based on textbooks and outside sources •creating classroom and attendance policies, lesson plans, classroom and homework activities, assignments, evaluation criteria, quizzes and exams •evaluating students’ oral presentations, written outlines and assignments •developing new ideas for course based on student and curricula needs •developing use of new technology •consulting with students concerning text, class material, and policies •Assistant Speech Course Director •PR Writing Course Director •Co-director Alice M. House Persuasive Speech Contest •Department committee members, including: •Service Learning •Administrative Professional’s Day •Alumni Involvement •Graduate Feedback •Gateway Course •Academic Advising •Alumni Development •Academic Advising - advise current and potential Communication majors on graduation requirements, scheduling and certificate courses; assist students in fulfilling requirements for the Communication major; assist students in fulfilling their future goals, through resources in the Communication major; as of Fall 2011, assist students with A&S requirements; assist students through the semester conversion process; attend workshops and trainings on the semester conversion process; hold up to 6 advising hours a week in office , University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

2010 -To Present PR Writing Course Director, Teach PR Writing course; advise department head on adjunct faculty hires and course format (online vs in class); decisions on course curriculum, textbook, assignments, etc. for all sections; advise online faculty; work with PR curriculum director, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

09-01-2007 -08-01-2012 Assistant Speech Course Director , Assisted Director Kris Galyen; co-led annual graduate teaching assistant teaching workshop; observed graduate assistants’ teaching and provided feedback; assisted in course curriculum decisions; answered questions from graduate teaching assistants; served as co-director of the Alice M. House Persuasive Speech Contest 2007-2011, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

01-01-2008 -01-01-2012 Interim Speech Course Director, Served as the Interim Director Winter quarter 2008 and Fall 2011 due to Kris Galyen's FMLA leave. Assumed sole responsbility of the Speech Program including all of the duties as listed in the Assistant Speech Course Director section., University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

09-01-2007 -09-01-2009 Adjunct Instructor, AAUP, Instructor for public speaking and public relations courses. Duties included: •choosing and presenting material based on textbooks and outside sources •creating classroom and attendance policies, lesson plans, classroom and homework activities, speech assignments, speech evaluation criteria and quizzes and exams •evaluating students’ oral presentations, written outlines and assignments •develop new ideas for course based on student’s needs •develop use of new technology in and outside of the classroom •assist students in and outside of the classroom as needed •consulting with students concerning text, class material, and policies •Service Included: Assistant Speech Course Director; Co-director Alice M. House Persuasive Speech Contest; Serving on department committees, which including: Service Learning, Administrative Professional’s Day, Alumni Involvement Committee •Academic Advising duties included: •advise current and potential Communication majors on graduation requirements, scheduling and certificate courses•assist students in fulfilling requirements for the Communication major assist students in fulfilling their future goals, through resources in the Communication major , University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

09-01-2004 -09-01-2007 Annual Adjunct Instructor, Instructor for Effective Public Speaking and Professional Speaking courses; Served on department committees; Teaching duties included:•choosing and presenting material based on textbook •creating classroom and attendance policies, lesson plans, classroom and homework activities, speech assignments, speech evaluation criteria and quizzes and exams•evaluating students’ oral presentations, written outlines and other assignments•consulting with students concerning text, class material, and policies , University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

2003 -2004 Term Adjunct Instructor, Instructor for Effective Public Speaking: Teaching Duties included: •choosing and presenting material based on textbook•creating classroom and attendance policies, lesson plans, classroom and homework activities, speech assignments, speech evaluation criteria and quizzes and exams•evaluating students’ oral presentations, written outlines and other assignments•consulting with students concerning text, class material, and policies , University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

2002 -2003 Graduate Teaching Assistant, Assisted with Rhetorical Theory course of 75-100 students: Duties included:•record keeping•grading tests, quizzes and assignments•consulting with students concerning texts, class material, assignments and policies•assisting instructor with various duties determined as needed, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

09-01-2001 -09-01-2002 Graduate Teaching Assistant, Instructor of Effective Public Speaking: Duties included:•choosing and presenting material based on textbook•creating classroom and attendance policies, lesson plans, classroom and homework activities, speech assignments, speech evaluation criteria and quizzes and exams•evaluating students’ oral presentations, written outlines and other assignments•consulting with students concerning text, class material, and policies, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

09-01-2001 -09-01-2002 Graduate Development Assistant, Assistant to Department Head, Undergraduate Director and Graduate Director; Created and posted fliers for department events; Assisted in the development and launching of the department website; Proofread written documents such as pamphlets, invitations, etc.; Assisted Professor Lisa Newman, Undergraduate Director in the planning and coordination of various events and activities, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

1998 -2000 Intern, Office of Communications and College Relations, Assistant to graphic designer and Dean of Communications; Conceptualized and implemented display in desktop publishing; Produced written articles for use on the web and various McMicken publications; Trained faculty and staff on hardware and software; Served on committee as student representative, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

1998 -1999 Co-op, Co-op on publishing and public relations team; Worked with team to plan, organize, write, coordinate, and publish internal and external newsletters; Conceptualized display of newsletter and other public documents; Wrote and edited press releases ; Created and edited documents for On-line documentation; esigned databases using MS Excel; Responsible for distribution of technical manual materials to customers, Intrieve Inc. , Cincinnati, OH

08-01-2012 -To Present Adjunct Associate Professor, Instructor for public relations, business communication and other courses as needed by the department •Teaching duties include: •choosing and presenting material based on textbooks and outside sources •creating classroom and attendance policies, lesson plans, classroom and homework activities, assignments, evaluation criteria, quizzes and exams •evaluating students’ oral presentations, written outlines and assignments •developing new ideas for course based on student and curricula needs •developing use of new technology •consulting with students concerning text, class material, and policies •PR Writing Course Director •Assisting with Alice M. House Persuasive Speech Contest •Department committee member, including: •Teaching working group •Service Learning •Alumni Involvement •Academic Advising •Academic Advising - advise current and potential Communication majors on graduation requirements, scheduling and certificate courses; assist students in fulfilling requirements for the Communication major; assist students in fulfilling their future goals, through resources in the Communication major; as of Fall 2011, assist students with A&S requirements; assist students through the semester conversion process; attend workshops and trainings on academic advising; hold up to 4 advising hours a week in office as well as advising via email , University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio

Teaching and Resource Materials

Depoe, Steve, Erickson, Amber K. and Sikorski, Andrea. (2006). Instructor’s Resource Manual for Rudolph F. and Kathleen S. Verderber’s The Challenge of Effective Speaking 13^th Edition.Belmont, California: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning. 

Electronic Journal

Trent, Judith S., Short-Thompson, Cady, Mongeau, Paul A., Metzler, Maribeth S., Trent,Jimmie D., Erickson, Amber K., and Levi, Joesph T. (Nov. 2010).Cracked and Shattered Ceilings: Gender, Race, Religion, Age, and the Ideal Candidate. American Behavioral Scientist, vol. 54 no. 3, pgs. 163-183.

Newspaper Article

Erickson, Amber (2008, February 13). What we can learn from New Hampshire. Northwest Press, p. A11. 

Erickson, Amber (2008, February 27). Dogs help those who can't get out to play. Northwest Press, p. B1. 

Erickson, Amber (2008, April 23). Homelike atmosphere at TAG's Cafe. Northwest Press, p. B1. 

Erickson, Amber (2008, May 21). White Oak women get diplomas for Mother's Day.
Northwest Press, p. A2. 

 Erickson, Amber (2008, June 11). Wish comes true for Colerain girl. Northwest Press, p. A1. 

Erickson, Amber (2008, December 10). Annual Lancer food drive keeps on trucking. Northwest Press, p. A1. 

Erickson, Amber (2008, December 10). It's 'a sweet life' for Colerain Township shop. Northwest Press, p. B1. 

Erickson, Amber (2008, December 31). Student finds prescription for lending a helping hand. Northwest Press, p. A4. 

Erickson, Amber (2009, January 7). Northwest's gift of books keeps on giving. Northwest Press, p. A2.

Invited Presentations

Dr. Judith Trent, Amber K. Erickson, Joseph Levi, members of the Department of Political Science (05-16-2008. ) The Early Presidential Campaign of 2008: The Good, the Bad and Maybe - the Ugly .127 Arts & Sciences Hall, Cincinnati, OH. UC. . Level:College

Dr. Judith Trent, Amber K. Erickson, Joseph Levi (10-12-2008. ) The 2008 Presidential Campaign: The Issues .Receptions Baquet Hall, Clermont County, Cincinnati, OH. Professional Meeting. . Level:Local

Amber Erickson (05-07-2012. ) Business Communication: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly .Daniels Hall, North Lounge, Cincinnati, Ohio. UC. . Level:University

Colloquium

Dr. Judith Trent, Amber K. Erickson, Joseph Levi (04-2008). Ideal Candidate . Department of Communication Faculty and Graduate Students, Arts & Sciences Hall. UC. Level:Department

Paper Presentations

Amber K. Erickson Where Were You?: The Therapeutic Rhetoric of September 11, 2001 .Kansas City, Missouri. Conference. Level:Regional

2013 Faculty Appreciation Day Luncheon, hosted by UC Football I was invited to the April 11, 2013 faculty luncheon, hosted by the UC Football program. Each current football player invited one faculty member in appreciation for working with them during the year. This semester I had 2 football players in my Business Communication and one invited me to the luncheon. The program included faculty and football staff , including Head Coach Tuberville, eating a casual lunch of Skyline Chili in the 3rd floor press box. 0 Status:Recipient Level:University Type:Recognition

2010 -2010 Faculty Appreciation Award Graduating senior recognized me as someone who made a difference and helped them through their education at UC. I received a letter of recognition and a Red Ribbon pin to where to the graduation ceremony. 0 Status:Recipient Level:University Type:Recognition

2009 -2009 Faculty Appreciation Award Graduating senior recognized me as someone who made a difference and helped them through their education at UC. I received a letter of recognition and a Red Ribbon pin to where to the graduation ceremony. 0 Status:Recipient Level:University Type:Recognition

Graduating Senior Recogniztion Graduating Senior Gabrielle Breyer recognized me at the spring 2020 Graduation Ceremony (this occurred online in August) as the faculty member who made a difference to her. Status:Recipient Level:College Type:Recognition

Director Type:Departmental Service Level:Department 03-01-2010 -To Present

Co-Director Type:Departmental Service Level:Department 09-01-2007 -08-01-2012

(Communication Alumni Committee ) Committee Member Type:Departmental Service Level:Department 09-01-2010 -08-01-2012

(Adjunct RPT Committee ) Committee Member Type:Departmental Service Level:Department 01-01-2010 -03-31-2010

Committee Member Type:Departmental Service 09-01-2007 -To Present

Consultant Type:Community Service Level:Public 04-01-2004 -04-01-2008

Consultant Type:Community Service Level:Public 07-01-2007 -To Present

(Department Head Search Committee ) Committee Member Type:University/College Service Level:Department 10-01-2010 -11-30-2010

(Teaching Working Group ) Member Type:Departmental Service Level:Department 08-01-2012 -To Present

(Assisted with Alice House Speech Contest ) Co-Chair Type:Departmental Service Level:Department 03-01-2012 -To Present

(DAAP Summer Camp ) Consultant Type:University/College Service Level:University 06-01-2011 -To Present

Central States Communication Association (Debut Panel ) Review Board/Panel Type:Service to Professional Associations Level:Regional 01-01-2013 -04-30-2013

Director of Social Media and Promotions Program Director Type:Departmental Service Level:Department 08-01-2017 -To Present

Teaching Committee Committee Chair Type:Departmental Service Level:Department 08-01-2010 -To Present

Community Task Force Committee Chair Type:Departmental Service Level:Department 02-01-2016 -To Present

iiAC - Innovative Instructional Advisory Council Committee Member Type:University/College Service Level:College 08-01-2015 -To Present

Technology Ambassador for A&S Member Type:University/College Service Level:College 04-01-2020 -To Present

Public speaking, Speech Communication, speech, professional speech, professional speech communication, professional communication, political communication, politics, training, speech training, public speaking training

03-2010 -03-2011: Central States Communication Association Reginal Branch of the National Communication Association Central States Communication Association,

15-COMM-171 EFF PUBLIC SPEAKING Level:Undergraduate

15-COMM-201 PROFESSIONAL SPKG Level:Undergraduate

15-COMM-202 PERSUASIVE SPEAKING Level:Undergraduate

15-COMM-243 PR WRITING Level:Undergraduate

15-COMM-243 PR WRITING Level:Undergraduate

15-COMM-281 BUSINESS COMMUNIC Level:Undergraduate

-COMM-2043 PR WRITING Level:Undergraduate

-COMM-2043 PR WRITING Level:Undergraduate

-COMM-2042 INTRO TO PR Level:Undergraduate

-COMM-2042 INTRO TO PR Level:Undergraduate

COMM 3094 Level:Undergraduate

-COMM-3071 COMM CRIT Level:Undergraduate

10-2010 -10-2010 Collaboration with DAAP Assisted Prof. Peter Chamberlein with TEDx Cincinnati Presentation. Critiqued his presentation over a 3 week period in preparation. Met 2 times a week for up to 2 hours a time. , College of Design, Art, Architecture and Planning University of Cincinnati Type:Other

03-2011 -04-2011 Collaboration with DAAP Worked with Prof. Peter Chamberlein's students from the School of Design. Five seniors chosen by the faculty presented speeches on their journey as design students competing for a spot to compete again against 7 other regional schools. , DAAP School of Design Merit Award University of Cincinnati Type:Other

04-2011 -04-2011 Manuscript Review - LOOK AND LISTEN: EXPLORING THE LISTENING PROCESS THROUGH THE CLASSIC EXERCISE OF “TELEPHONE” Reviewed a manuscript for in class public speaking activity for peer reviews teaching journal, Communication Teacher Type:Other

04-14-2011 -04-15-2011 Public Speaking Focus Group Conference on technology use in public speaking classrooms and with textbooks, McGraw Hill Cincinnati, Ohio Type:Conference Attendance

04-2011 -2011 Online Course Improvement Meetings with Faculty Technolgy Center on how to improve PowerPoint presentations for Blackboard and use with my online class. Inspired by the software used by Dr. Nancy Jennings. Creating PowerPoint with narration for online courses as well. , University of Cincinnati University of Cincinnati Type:Other

03-2010 -03-2010 Central States Communication Conference Regional Communication Conference, Central States Communication Association Cincinnati, Ohio Type:Conference Attendance

01-01-2013 -To Present Online training use Lynda.com Completed the Blackboard and Publisher tutorials, online Type:Tutorial

05-20-2013 -05-20-2013 Upping Your Game: Creating Stronger Learning in Your Online Course(s) Evaluating and revising the assignments, material and presentation of material for online courses, CET&L Langsam Library Type:Seminar

08-01-2007 -To Present Online Teaching Pedagogical Improvement Since I began teaching online in 2008 I have been seeking new information, better technology and improved ways of teaching online. I have consulted with other online faculty across the college, listened carefully to students' comments both in written form and as part of small self-run focus groups. All of this information (plus any attended informal faculty brown bags) has greatly improved my methods to reach students in the online teaching environment. I believe my work over the years has lead to a much more organized, sharper and more organized experience for my students. I continue to evolve my methods as well. , Type:Self-Study Program

CET&L & Kathy Rowell: Creating a Semester Teaching Syllabus This workshop contained information about improving your syllabus. It was very helpful as I have put most of the ideas into practice with excellent student feedback. , CET&L TUC Type:Workshop

Your First Look at Canvas Participants will learn how to use Course Templates to help organize content, and create a syllabus within Canvas. They will also learn how to set a course Home Page. These first steps will help participants begin to build engaging courses that promote student learning., CET&L WebEx Type:Online Class

Build Your Course in Canvas Session: Introduction to Assignments, Rubrics, & Speedgrader Participants will learn how to set up their courses in Canvas to promote learning, make available and organize course content, communicate expectations to their students, encourage student engagement and interaction, and assess student learning., CET&L WebEx Type:Online Class

Communicating with students through Canvas Participants will learn how to set up their courses in Canvas to promote learning, make available and organize course content, communicate expectations to their students, encourage student engagement and interaction, and assess student learning., CET&L WebEx Type:Online Class

Teaching with WebEx Participants will learn how to use WebEx, an online video conferencing tool that can be used to hold live course sessions with students. WebEx can be used to provide live and virtual office hours, lecture, review sessions, student discussion or collaboration, or student presentations. They will also learn about key online resources to support their use of this tool. , CET&L WebEx Type:Online Class

Building a Strong Dossier: RPT Preparation Keisha Love, Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs and Special Initiatives, and Kasey Underwood, Employee Relations Specialist, will provide an overview of the review process and provide strategies for building a strong dossier for reappointment, promotion, and tenure., CET&L WebEx Type:Online Class

CET&L: Creating and Maintaining Work/Life Balance This interactive workshop covers three aspects of work-home boundary management: identifying boundary preferences, discussing challenges and opportunities associated with spillover, and generating tactics to manage work-home boundary conflict. , CET&L Langsam Library Type:Seminar

Implicit Bias Training This training brought to light the implicit bias tendencies from the participants. It taught us how to recognize them so we can learn to overcome them., Cincinnati Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America Zoom Type:Online Class

Cultural Competence in the time of Covid-19 This interactive seminar discussed how to be aware of our cultural identity and how our identity as well as others impacts daily life during the pandemic. It also discussed how we can respond with kindness and understanding with the cultural knowledge. , Cincinnati Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America Zoom Type:Online Class

New Blackboard and Canopy This workshop aims to help you organize your new fall course in the New Blackboard system. We discuss the new tools like Kaltura and Webcam., CET&L Langsam Library Type:Workshop

Required or suggested completion of Lynda tutorials for several topics, including MS Publisher, Windows Movie Maker and Mac imovie,

Began using more of my students' personal technology in class to get then engaged. Examples include: mobile apps, mobile searches, ipads, online in class activity submission, etc.

Plan to continue into future terms,

Expanded "Diversity in the Workplace" discussions to 2-3 in class days. Included several in class activities to help students learn the concepts ,