This media and communication expert has successfully transferred her skills to sharing knowledge with students in compelling and relevant ways.

Lisa Low is the first to admit that moving from industry expert to faculty member in Texas Tech University’s College of Media & Communication (CoMC) wasn’t the smoothest transition of all time.

“It was a rough landing,” she says of her January 2015 classroom debut with a rueful smile. “I was hired for my expertise in digital and social media and strategic communication, and, like many things in life, it was tough.”

But Low refused to give up. She relied on mentors and students to help her improve. She rigorously sought and implemented feedback, and years later, she is among the finest classroom teachers on the Texas Tech campus.

Her recent recognition as University Distinguished Educator reinforces how far she has come over the past decade. The award, part of a new group of recognitions introduced by Texas Tech earlier this year, honors senior lecturers and professors of practice with a minimum of five years of continuous service to the university. It recognizes significant and ongoing accomplishments in teaching or engaged scholarship.

“It is hard to put into words what this means to me,” she said. “My jaw dropped when I read the email telling me about it, and the information wouldn’t process for a minute. It was just out of left field, and I am still kind of in shock when I think about it.”

Low is a professor of practice in the Department of Public Relations & Strategic Communication Management. She teaches classes in communication and public relations and works closely with faculty and students in conducting research on various social media topics.

“Lisa’s genuine joy for teaching and commitment to continuous growth are inspiring,” said Provost & Senior Vice President Ron Hendrick. “Throughout her career, she has embraced opportunities to learn from others, and she brings that same spirit of mentorship and generosity to helping her fellow faculty grow as educators.”

In addition to classroom teaching, Low also is director of the Division of AI Pedagogy & Policy within Texas Tech’s Teaching, Learning & Professional Development Center (TLPDC) and has become a campus expert on the issue of artificial intelligence (AI) in the classroom. In her TLPDC role, she supports faculty as they navigate the rapidly changing role of AI in teaching and learning, helping translate emerging technology into thoughtful, evidence-informed practices that support learning while preserving the essential role of human judgment.

“We have a lot of outstanding faculty here, and what I have tried to do is immerse myself in what makes a good teacher,” she said. “I have never really considered myself on that level, but I love what I do, and I have a passion for teaching.”

She sees teaching as an opportunity to mentor young people and to help them realize their full potential as students and as eventual contributors to the professional workforce.

“A lot of the joy of teaching is intrinsic,” she said. “The notes you get from students saying, ‘Professor Low, thank you.’ And it’s for something small that was my pleasure. I just think I have the best job in the world.”

Her focus is on providing the best learning experience for students while continually seeking their feedback and remembering the great advice she has received through the years. Low implements a mechanism early each semester to gauge how she is doing, soliciting input from students. 

The small course corrections provided by thoughtful students have always moved the needle as far as improving a class without waiting for end-of-semester evaluations.

“I concern myself with the day-to-day,” she said. “I find joy in helping others, and part of my passion that surrounds teaching is helping others who might struggle, namely other professors of practice who might be having the hard landing that I did.”

For Low, the “practice” in professor of practice reflects more than 25 years spent at the intersection of technology and strategic communication. Her career has tracked the evolution of digital communication from the early web through social media, including leading Texas Tech’s first institutional digital marketing strategy.

She credits two longtime CoMC instructors, Robert Wernsman and Bill Dean, with helping her hit her teaching stride, while current faculty members Trent Seltzer and former faculty member Eric Rasmussen have been instrumental as encouragers and mentors. Likewise, she said Suzanne Tapp at the TLPDC has been another colleague who has helped her grow professionally.

“It’s wonderful to have so many individuals that I can look up to,” she said. “The great thing about Texas Tech is you don’t have to go very far to find talented people to talk to about a difficult situation. They’re always right there willing to help.”