New Media Institute
New Media Institute
The New Media Institute equips students with the skills to create digital solutions for tomorrow’s media landscape.
overview
The New Media Institute (NMI) is an interdisciplinary academic unit dedicated to exploring the critical, commercial, and creative dimensions of emerging technologies. The NMI is committed to the teaching and training of new and emerging media professionals and to providing students with technical skills and knowledge. Curriculum focuses on critical investigations into the constantly changing technology and media landscape and the development of skills to design and build interactive digital products. As a key partner of the Innovation District, the New Media Institute connects our students with industry and university needs to provide interactive digital solutions to real-world problems and organizational objectives.
NMI offers the interdisciplinary NMI Certificate program for undergraduates, as well as residential and online Emerging Media master’s degrees for graduate students.
NEW MEDIA CERTIFICATE
The New Media Institute is home to the New Media Certificate, UGA’s largest interdisciplinary certificate. Classes in user experience design, web development, digital storytelling and emerging technologies, among others, are offered for certificate students.
Faculty
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Chris Gerlach
NMI Lecturer
Chris joined the NMI in 2013 as a Graduate Assistant, equipped with a strong foundation in integrated marketing communications and a curiosity for emerging technology. During his undergraduate years, he […]
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Tyler Mazurek
New Media Certificate Faculty Advisor + Instructor
Tyler was first acquainted with the NMI as an Entertainment and Media Studies student. To explore his growing interest in all things NMI, he became a member of the inaugural […]
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Kyla Sterling
Emerging Media and Double Dawgs Faculty Advisor + Lecturer
As Faculty Advisor for Emerging Media and Double Dawgs, Kyla oversees students’ journeys from recruitment to graduation—and beyond! She holds a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the […]
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Megan Ward
New Media Institute Director
Originally from Jupiter, Florida, Megan Ward fled the Gator state to be a double-dawg, earning both her Bachelors and Masters in Public Relations from Grady College. An NMI alumna herself, […]
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John Weatherford
NMI Experiential Learning Faculty Advisor + Principal Lecturer
As Principal Lecturer and Experiential Learning Faculty Advisor, John leads a variety of instructional efforts at the NMI. With a Masters and Bachelors degree in English from UGA, he combines […]
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Barbara Bond
Lead Business Manager
Prior to Grady College, Barbara Bond spent the last ten years in the health care industry – nine years as a lead certified pharmacy technician and one year as a […]
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Olivia Carino
Part-time Instructor
Olivia Carino (AB ’18, MA ’21) graduated in December 2018 with a degree in Communication Studies and a Minor in Sociology. In July 2019, she discovered her passion for web […]
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Leah Spalding
Part-Time Instructor
Leah Spalding (ABJ ’15, MA ’17) is a part-time, remote instructor at the University of Georgia, as well as an assistant professor of UX Design at Western Kentucky University. Leah […]
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Dayne Young
Program Coordinator
Dayne is the program coordinator for both the NMI and the Carmical Sports Media Institute. With the NMI, Dayne serves as the TEDxUGA Producer, chair of the New Media Advisory […]
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Claire Jordan
NMI Instructor
Claire is an NMI Instructor and proud NMI alumna, with a Bachelors degree in Public Relations and a Masters in Emerging Media from UGA. Her practical insights, drawn from her […]
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Jake Troyer
NMI Remote Faculty
As a remote NMI Instructor, Jake teaches a variety of courses each year for the New Media Certificate and Emerging Media Masters. Through a project-based curriculum, Jake’s courses guide students […]
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Lauren Baggett
NMI Communications and Development Director + Instructor
Lauren is an Instructor and the NMI’s Director of Communications and Donor Engagement. Lauren earned her Bachelors and Masters degrees from the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. She […]
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Events
Tedxuga
TEDxUGA brings together a carefully selected group of UGA faculty, staff, alumni and students each year to share ideas worth spreading. This university-wide program is coordinated through NMI.


