Jamila Cupid, known as Dr. Cupid to her students, is one of the Communication/Journalism Department’s latest hires. Though her fresh office walls lack decoration, what this professor does not lack is experience.
Cupid brings years of education with her to Shippensburg University, completing her undergraduate work at Boston University and her master’s and doctorate at Howard University. She also has experience in the public relations field working at FleishmanHillard, a world-renowned public relations firm, whose clients include AT&T, Citi and Proctor & Gamble. FleishmanHillard also represents numerous government agencies, according to its website.
The reason Cupid decided to leave the world of public relations is because of her desire to motivate students.
“I fell in love with working in public relations and digital media. I taught part time, but I found that I was more excited about classes and students,” Cupid said.
Although she is also fond of digital media, media planning and the mass communications world Cupid’s love is teaching students.
Her passions have led her to Rowland Hall where classrooms are full of communication/journalism students.
“I enjoy what I do. It’s a choice that I made to be here. I really enjoy working with (the students),” said Cupid.
A self-described “city girl,” Cupid has spent most of her life in either Washington, D.C., or Brooklyn, N.Y., but in the end her passion for teaching and digital media prevailed over the lack of skyscrapers and subway trains in Shippensburg.
“Ship is a teaching-focused university,” Cupid said, “I am able to spend most of my time instructing and advising students. The location is also nice. I wanted to be close to Washington and to my family in New York.” Cupid said, “I grew up in Brooklyn and Long Island. I feel out of place here with all of the cows.”
Cupid notes that communication in today’s constantly changing society is important.
“Journalism lets us enlighten people,” she said. “Communications is important because you get to shape our culture, our world, how we interact based on the messages we share,”
This semester, Cupid is teaching Intro to Mass Communications and Public Relations Writing.
Next semester, she hopes to teach Diversity in the Media. She can be found in Rowland 130 on Tuesdays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Wednesdays from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., as well as by appointment. Students are always welcome to visit her office during those hours, but look out for a change in her office’s personality.
“I’m working on decorating my office,” said Cupid. “I’m going to make it my own.”
The Slate welcomes thoughtful discussion on all of our stories, but please keep comments civil and on-topic. Read our full guidelines here.