Sandra Pugh

Sandra Pugh earned her PhD in Literacy with St. John’s University, Queens, New York, earned both her BS and MS in the Professional Communication program with Florida State University, Panama City, and holds a Graduate Certificate in Professional Writing with the University of Central Florida. She is also an alumna of Gulf Coast Community College.
 
Sandra previously worked as a professor with Gulf Coast State College teaching courses in public speaking, group dynamics, interpersonal communication, and English composition. Teaching is her joy and passion, and she truly enjoys the opportunity to support students along their academic journeys towards their future success. While teaching has been the focus of her work in higher education, she also has research interests in adult literacy, developmental education in postsecondary, and higher education policy.
 
Prior to her career in higher education, Sandra worked for 16 years in the hospitality industry with Schooners, The Last Local Beach Club, where she rose through the ranks to serve as floor manager and ended her career as general manager with this popular Panama City Beach establishment. 
 
With her local roots, she holds common ground with many of the students attending FSUPC, and Sandra uses these shared experiences to bridge and build connections within her classroom.

CURRICULUM VITAE

PROFILE
Professor of Communication with 10+ years of teaching and professional work experience supporting and leading others. I am passionate about teaching and learning and enjoy the opportunity to collaborate with a team to create a vision that will lead to completion of goals, and execution of the collective mission.

SKILLS
Experienced educator
Effective communicator
Compassionate leader
Creative thinker

EXPERIENCE
Teaching Faculty, Professional Communication,
College of Applied Studies, Florida State University 2024 – present
Presently teaching courses within the Professional Communication program and anticipate teaching graduate courses within our Corporate and Public Communication MS and Organizational Management Communication MS programs.

Professor of Communication, Division of Language and Literature, Gulf Coast State College 2011- 2024
I began my career with Gulf Coast State College as adjunct faculty teaching public speaking from 2011 until 2013, when I advanced to the position of Assistant Professor. I advanced to the position of Associate Professor in July 2018, and recently earned promotion to Full Professor in January of 2023. Courses taught include public speaking, group discussion, interpersonal communication, journalism co-op, and English composition.

Learning Leader, Newpoint Charter Academy 2010
Creatively taught sixth-grade language arts, sixth and seventh-grade reading, and sixth-grade etiquette.

EDUCATION
St. John’s University 2022
PhD in Literacy, Specialization in Leadership

University of Central Florida 2013
Grad Cert in Professional Writing

The Florida State University, Panama City Campus
MS in Communication
BS in Communication

Gulf Coast Community College
AA Liberal Arts 1995

College Teaching Experience:
 Instructor, SPC 1608, Introduction to Public Speaking 2011 to 2024
 Focuses on the practical needs of the general education student in developing verbal and nonverbal skills for public speaking. The Canons of Rhetoric serve as the foundation for developing the creative process students use throughout the semester to craft presentations
within the genres of narrative, informative, persuasive speaking, and speaking for special occasions.
 Instructor, ENC 1101, English Composition I 2013 to 2024
 This course is the foundation college-level writing course for all students, and the focus is on process-based writing. I use the Canons of Rhetoric as the foundation for the writing process, with an additional focus on writing in college and in the professional world. Students
currently produce the following essays: literacy narrative, personal response, and analytical research report. Additional writing includes reflection on the development of their process skills and progress throughout the semester.
 Instructor, SPC 1420, Group Discussion 2017 to 2024
 I redesigned the curriculum to resurrect this dormant course in 2017. The focus is theory and practice in communicating within groups. Students organize into work groups and develop assigned projects as I teach, guide, and coach them towards presentation of their group work. Major assignments include a standard group presentation, team debates, and a team-led roundtable presentation.

 Co-Instructor, Honors Symposium Spring 2018
 This course was a labor of love and joy to co-teach with the amazing Professor Betty McKinnie. Our symposium was titled Exploring Westeros and focused on George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones. We explored the world of Westeros in its various forms with a focus on the graphic novels, and how this fantasy was inspired from real historical events of the medieval era. Students chose their Houses and from this perspective, created artwork representing the coat-of-arms, and delivered individual and group presentations about their respective Houses, culminating in an end-of-semester feast with foods from their Westerosi region.

General Manager, Schooners, The Last Local Beach Club 1992- 2008
During my tenure of 16 years, I advanced in responsibility and was promoted from bus staff to wait staff, served in a peer supervisory role, worked as a floor manager, and ended my tenure at the helm of the restaurant in the position of General Manager, responsible for all aspects of daily operations.

 Instructor, JOU 2949, Journalism COOP 2021 to 2024
 I coach students as they engage in this practical work experience course. We collaborate to find job placement for application of practical skills within the field, while completing assignments and attending meetings to help ensure a successful experience. Additionally, students produce a final product to include in a professional portfolio as evidence of their work experience. The GC marketing department and Digital Media program have been collaborative partners for on-campus work experiences.

 Instructor, ENC 1101C, Enhanced English Composition I 2022 to 2024
 This course meets the same standards and requirements as the traditional ENC 1101 course. I assisted in developing this course in response to the mandates of Senate Bill 1720, which restructured postsecondary developmental education. Designed to support developing writers based on their PERT scores as they do not place into the traditional ENC 1101 course, the class meets for an additional 25 minutes each class meeting, creating time for skills development, remediation, and support.

 Instructor, ENC 1102, English Composition II 2022 to 2024
 This course continues college-level writing skills development, and my approach is grounded in the Canons of Rhetoric. Students produce extensive writing and develop essays in researched argument, rhetorical analysis, and a final unit on literary analysis in preparation for Humanities III literature courses. Additional writing includes reflection on the development of their process skills and progress throughout the semester.

 Instructor, SPC 1300, Interpersonal Communication Spring 2024
 Per the request of Gulf Coast’s Health Sciences professors, I developed this course to serve the practical needs of the general education student to develop their communication skills in one-to-one interactions. However, the course is available to all students as an elective course option. To be taught in Spring 2024, the course focuses on theory and practice, as students engage in activities to cultivate interpersonal and intrapersonal communication, verbal and nonverbal communication skills, and develop cultural communication and conflict management competencies. Students will engage in skills practice, maintain an outside-ofclass practice journal, and develop a capstone project to include an action plan for continued skills development, alongside a class presentation of their project.

Professional Experience in Higher Education:
 Course Manager for all Gulf Coast State College Speech Communication courses: SPC 1608 Introduction to Public Speaking, SPC 1420 Group Discussion, SPC 1300 Interpersonal Communication, JOU 2949 Journalism Co-op 2013 to present
 Privileged to serve as course manager for all speech communication courses, managing changes to curriculum and instructional materials, including developing Honors contracts for SPC 1608 Introduction to Public Speaking. I also serve as peer mentor to an amazing speech communication faculty.

 Faculty Advisor 2013 to 2024
 The purpose of advising is to cultivate a relationship with students that goes beyond helping develop academic plans; I aspire to encourage them and help students sustain their vision so that they will continue moving forward towards achieving their academic and career goals. This support necessarily includes assistance with goal setting and preparing for next steps after Gulf Coast and providing letters of recommendation upon request.

 Chair, Curriculum Review Committee 2016-17, 2017-18
 Before my tenure as chair of CRC, I was our division representative from 2013-2016. During my tenure as chair, I initiated a redesign of committee bylaws to create a more effective ascension structure. Additional responsibilities included setting the annual meeting schedule,
developing meeting agendas, sending out required invitations for curricular presentations, mentoring committee members, and engaging in oversight and support for committee review of curricular changes to courses and programs at Gulf Coast.

 QEP Steering Committee and writing team 2019-2020
 Served as a member of the Steering Committee and participated in the development and presentation of our QEP: Guided Pathways to Success. I also served as co-author alongside our QEP chair and helped write, edit and revise our change plan, which received zero
recommendations from SACS – a first for Gulf Coast State College.

 Co-Chair Professional Development, Fall Conference Committee 2020
 As incoming chair of Faculty Senate, I co-chaired the professional development committee during summer 2020 of the COVID pandemic. We designed a completely virtual event via Zoom for all professional development sessions to ensure the health and safety of faculty and
staff.

 Chair, Faculty Senate 2020-21; Faculty Senate At-Large representative 2019-20
 Before serving as Senate chair, I was elected as an at-large member. In my role as chair, I was responsible for setting the annual meeting schedule, developing meeting agendas, leading meetings, and representing faculty on college-wide committees, including monthly meetings with administration.

 Member of DIAC (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Affairs Committee)/PEACE (Pluralism, Engagement, and Accessibility Committee for Everyone) 2021 to present
 Support and promote PEACE program initiatives including Community Engagement Talks and represented GC and PEACE in our partnership with Parker Elementary, Community Partnership School 2022-23.

 Chair, Issues and Compensation Committee 2021-22
 As past chair of Faculty Senate, I served as subcommittee chair for Issues and Compensation and helped finalize the creation of the professional development coordinator job position. This endeavor's success led to the creation of a full-time professional development
coordinator position in 2023, serving the entire college.

 QEP Implementation, Communication and Professional Development Committee 2020-21, 2021-22
 To support effective implementation of the QEP, I was selected to continue service on this QEP implementation subcommittee. Responsibilities included auditing communication processes, including the application to the college, letters of acceptance, and the GC website. The committee also offered feedback on professional development activities for faculty advisors.

 Guided Pathways to Success Intentional Advising Committee 2022 to present
 To support effective implementation of the QEP intentional advising model, I was selected to continue service on this QEP implementation subcommittee as a representative of my division. Responsibilities include review of advisor training materials and professional development, and I was an advisor in the Leon Miller Navigation Center for summer 2023.

 Summer Development Institute Committee 2022
 Collaborated with members of Faculty Senate to create the inaugural Summer Development Institute of 2022, the first week-long summer professional development opportunity for faculty at GC.

 Rank, Promotion, and Tenure Committee 2022-23, 2023-24
 Serve as division representative and support colleagues as they navigate Gulf Coast’s evaluation and recommendation process for continued contract and advancement in rank.

Service to the College and Community:
 Faculty tutor for the GC Writing and Reading Lab (WARL) 2013 to present
 GC Honors Committee 2015 to present
 Announcer of Candidates for Degrees for Gulf Coast State College Commencement Ceremonies May 2017, May 2018, May 2019, May 2021, May 2022, May 2023
 Language and Literature Faculty Search Committee 2017
 Social Sciences Faculty Search Committee 2017, 2023
 Executive Director of HR Search committee 2017
 Spring 2018 AFC Tailgate Fundraiser volunteer
 Judge AFC Conference on College Teaching & Learning - Distinguished Faculty Awards 2018-19
 HR Recruiting and Records Management Technician Search Committee 2018
 Radio Production Assistant Search Committee 2019
 Visual and Performing Arts Senior Administrative Assistant Search Committee 2019
 Head Coach, Men’s Basketball Search Committee 2019
 IT Technician 1 Search Committee 2020
 Judge University Academy History Fair 2020, 2021, 2022
 Master of Ceremonies Mr. and Miss Commodore 2020
 Honors Scholarship Scoring Committee 2021
 Health and Wellness Committee 2021-22, 2023-24
 Language and Literature Faculty Search Committee 2021
 Chief Information Officer Search Committee 2021
 IT Technician 1 Search Committee 2021
 Instructional Coordinator, Radiography Program Search Committee 2021
 Instructional Coordinator, Sonography Program Search Committee 2021
 Head Coach, Men’s Baseball Search Committee 2021
 Director, Marketing & Communications Search Committee 2021
 Club advisor GC TTRPG Club (Table Top and Role-playing Games) 2021-22, co-advisor 2022-23
 Commodores Care 2022-23
 Presidential Search Committee 2023

Professional Affiliations:
 AWP, Association of Writers and Writing Programs
 FCA, Florida Communication Association
 NCA, National Communication Association
 NCTE, National Council of Teachers of English

Awards and Recognition:
 Rookie of the Year 2015
 Outstanding Professor of the Year 2023-2024
 Outstanding Professor of the Year nominee 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23
 Gulf Coast State College Leadership Institute 2018-19
 Selected to attend The Florida Master Teacher Seminar, Pensacola State College, FL 2019
 Division of Language and Literature Person of the Year Award 2020-21
 Selected to participate in the Florida DOE General Education Core Courses Faculty Discipline Committee 2023

Publications and Research Interests:
 Dissertation – We Could be Heroes: The Moral of the Policy Story of Florida SB 1720
 Other areas of research and inquiry include reading and writing remediation in postsecondary, and developmental course design and policy (SB 1720); the readiness gap between high school and community college; Section 504 and postsecondary education; student perceptions of college readiness; MLLs/ELLs in postsecondary remedial and developmental writing courses; instructional coaches and professional learning communities in postsecondary

Additional Professional Experience:
 American Medical Supply Company, Owner/Partner, Panama City, Florida 1999-2001
Dedicated our business to providing products to meet the home healthcare needs of the community.
 Davis Company/ Beach TV, Executive Assistant, Panama City Beach, Florida 1999
Member of the Web Development Team for the Tourist Network.