Professional Summary
Victoria L. LaPoe, Ph.D., is an award-winning journalist and scholar whose research focuses on media sourcing, digital media, and public relations. She was elected to the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Educators Academy Executive Committee in 2026 after serving in programming leadership in 2025. PRSA is a national organization representing more than 30,000 public relations and communications professionals.
LaPoe joined the University of Cincinnati in fall 2025. Prior to UC, she was a full professor in the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University (2017–2025), where she taught courses in both news and strategic communication, advised a first-place-winning Public Relations Student Society of America chapter, chaired the school’s contest committee with multiple student placements in Hearst and SPJ competitions, and served as Director of Studies in Journalism for the Honors Tutorial College (2020–2024). She was named an Overall Outstanding University Professor in spring 2025.
Earlier in her academic career, Dr. LaPoe taught broadcasting at Western Kentucky University, where she was promoted to overall coordinator for the broadcasting and film sequence (2014–2017), overseeing 500 out of 700 students.
She is a lifetime member of the Indigenous Journalists Association (formerly NAJA), where she was Vice President from 2017 to 2019, former Education Chair (2016-2019), and served on the education committee beginning in 2015.
LaPoe is currently working on advancing her Spanish language skills.
Education
Ph.D.: Louisiana State University (Media and Public Affairs)
M.A.: University of Iowa (Journalism and Mass Communication)
B.A.: University of Iowa (Journalism and Mass Communication & Theatre)
Research and Practice Interests
- Media sourcing
- Digital media and technology
- Journalism education
- Public relations and strategic communication
Positions and Work Experience
- Television News Producer (Best Newscast Award Winner/Associated Press, Region),
- Client Strategist,
- Marketing Communication Specialist,
2008 -2009 Hybrid Special Projects Producer,
2023 -2025 Nonprofit Founder,
Honors and Awards
2025 Outstanding University Professor Ohio University
2025 Discovery Pillar Award (Outstanding Innovation in Research) Scripps College of Communication, Ohio University
2018 Outstanding Woman in Journalism and Mass Communication Education Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC), Commission on the Status of Women Division
2009 Best Newscast (State Level) Associated Press
Post Graduate Training and Education
2023-2024 Artificial Intelligence Institute Graduate,
2024-2024 Mediation Training Certificate,
2024-2024 Wellness Education Training, Center for Teaching Learning Assessment, , Ohio University
2025-2025 Scholarly Teaching and Learning Certificate, Center for Teaching, Learning and Assessment, , Ohio University
2025-2025 Experiential Learning Certificate, Center for Teaching, Learning and Assessment, , Ohio University
2025-2025 Engaging Alumni Training, Center for Teaching, Learning and Assessment, , Ohio University