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Dr. Darlene Carbajal is Department Chair and an Associate Professor in the Communication Arts Department at the ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ. She teaches courses in the multimedia concentration where she implements pedagogical approaches that help students make connections between the communication discipline and their role and responsibility to enhance human connectedness. Her research interests include the role of spirituality in higher education and the pedagogical and mentoring approaches that faculty use to facilitate the spiritual development of students. Aligned with ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ mission and values, educational practices integrate academic learning with the development of the whole person. Students learn discipline-related content that prepares them to enter future careers and simultaneously complete lessons and explore questions of meaning and purpose. Dr. Carbajal has 10 years of experience teaching in K-12 public education. Her personal interests include searching for new ways to engage in self-reflective practices, volunteering with animal rescues to stop the homeless animal population, and going to rock concerts. Dr. Carbajal is a proud El Paso, Texas, native.

• B.A. ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ, 2003
• M.A. ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ, 2005
• Ph.D. ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ, 2017

• Associate Professor, Communication Arts, ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ (2023 - present), San Antonio, TX.
• Assistant Professor, Communication Arts, ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ (2017 – 2023), San Antonio, TX.
• Adjunct Faculty, Communication Arts ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ (2011 - 2017), San Antonio, TX.
• Technology Applications Teacher, Alamo Heights Junior School (2012 – 2017), San Antonio, TX.
• Career and Technical Education Teacher, Sam Houston High School (2007 – 2012), San Antonio, TX.

Publications

• Blanton, R., & Carbajal, D. (2019). Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman: A Critical Case Study on Social Media, Deception, and Lil Miquela. In Innocent E. Chiluwa (Covenant University, Nigeria) and Sergei A. Samoilenko (George Mason University, USA) (Eds.), Handbook of Research on Deception, Fake News, and Misinformation Online (pp. 87-103). Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA: IGI Global.
• Greenberg, V. & Carbajal, D. (2009). Using Convergent Media to Engage Graduate Students in a Digital and Electronic Writing class: Some Surprising Results. Proceedings of E-Learn: World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate, Government, Healthcare, and Higher Education 2009 (pp. 2640-2644). Chesapeake, VA: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE)

Manuscripts in Progress

• Carbajal, D. & Ramirez, Q. (conclusion section). Applying Communication Theory to Social Media Influencers: A Case Study on Social Media Influencers, the LaBrant Family, targeted for Communication Research.

Peer-Reviewed Conference Presentations

• Calvino, A. & Carbajal, D. (2020). Instagram Weight Loss: Realistic Journey Content vs. Enchanted Content. 2020 Southwest Fulbright Symposium, San Antonio, Texas.
• Carbajal, D. & Ramirez, Q. (2020, January). Social Media Influencers: Learn More ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ Our Students' World. Lilly Conferences on College and University Teaching and Learning, Austin, Texas.
• Carbajal, D. (2019, April). Inclusive Moves: How Well Do We Know Our Students? Fulbright San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas.
• Carbajal, D. & Herbers, S. (2019, January). When Students Search for Meaning, Am I A Professional Guide? Lilly Conferences on College and University Teaching and Learning, San Antonio, Texas.
• Carbajal, D. (2018, February). Spirituality in a Faith-Based Institution: Facilitating the Spiritual Development of Students. Poster presented at the 11th Annual Research Week, San Antonio, Texas.
• Carbajal, D. (2017, November). Spirituality in a Faith-Based Institution: Facilitating the Spiritual Development of Students. Annual Doctoral Student Research Symposium, San Antonio, Texas.

Selected Lectures and Workshops

• Alexander, L. & Carbajal, D. (2020, January). Creative Problem Solving for All! Workshop. Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers Association of Texas. San Antonio, Texas.
• Carbajal, D. (2019, January) Moving beyond the content: Finding spirituality in all things. Invited Speaker. Becoming Beholders Day of Reflection. ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ Center for Teaching and Learning and Mission and Ministry. San Antonio, Texas.
• Carbajal, D. (2019, November). Commitment and Consistency: Self-Directed Learning. Invited speaker. Dreeben School of Education Graduate Research Symposium. ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ, San Antonio, Texas.
• Carbajal, D. (2019, November). Good Experiences with Service Learning. Invited speaker. Ettling Center for Civic Leadership and Sustainability. ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ, San Antonio, Texas.
• Carbajal, D. (2018, November). Service Learning: Four Models. Invited speaker. ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ Center for Teaching and Learning and Ettling Center for Civic Leadership. San Antonio, Texas.

• National Communication Association, 2020 – Present
• Fulbright Association, 2019-Present
• American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), 2019-2019

• Nominated for the 2019 Presidential Teaching Award, ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ, 2019
• Outstanding Graduate Student 2004-2005, ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ
• TCEA Robotics Area 20 Inventions Competition: Student placed 1st place and 3rd place, 2013-2014
• TCEA Robotics State Inventions Competition, 2013-2014, Deer Park, TX.
• TCEA Robotics Area 20 Inventions Competition: Student placed in 1st place, 2014-2015
• TCEA Robotics State Inventions Competition: 5th place, 2014-2015, Dallas, TX.
• SAISD Instructional Technology, Making It Happen Award, 2010-2011

Selected Service

• Dissertation Committee, Gina Pagano, Dreeben School of Education, ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ, 2020-Present
• Capstone Chair, Stephen Aguirre, The Heart of ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ, ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ, Fall 2020
• Faculty Participant, 9-11 Remembrance Service, ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ, 2020
• Event Facilitator, KÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ 15-Year Anniversary Celebration, ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ, 2020
• Event Facilitator, Lambda Pi Eta, ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ, 2020
• Event Facilitator, Meet the Masters, ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ, 2019-2020
• Capstone Chair, Jason Futrell, Improving ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ Student Mental Health: A Puppet Centered PSA Campaign, ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ, Spring 2020
• Faculty Participant, Mission Leadership Academy, ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ, 2019-2020
• Capstone Chair, Auris Calvino, Weight Loss Instagram Influence: A Comparative Analysis of the Popularity of Realistic Weight Loss Journey, Content vs. Enchanted Content, ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ, Fall 2019
• Capstone Chair, Anthony Gollab, Communication Through Music Therapy: Enhancing the Quality of Life Through the Power of Music, ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ, Fall 2019
• Capstone Committee Member, JJ Lopez, Advancing KÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ: A Business Plan for Continued Services, ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ, Fall 2019
• Faculty Team Leader, Meet the Mission, ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ, 2019
• School of Media and Design Representative, Institutional Effectiveness Council, 2019-2021
• Group Discussion Leader, Lilly Fellows Program Conference, Baylor University, 2019
• School of Media and Design Event Coordinator, 2020 Hoopla SMD Celebration, 2019
• Communication Arts Event Coordinator, 1st Annual Communication Arts Student Showcase, 2019
• Faculty Presenter, Becoming Beholders A Day of Reflection, 2019
• Capstone Chair, Brittany Deike, The Social Game: A Mixed Methods Approach to Exploring the Benefits of Video Games, ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ, Fall 2018
• Content Contributor to promote ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ Heritage Days, ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ Mission & Media Ministry, 2018
• Faculty Volunteer, Word in Action Service Day, ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ 2018
• School of Media and Design Representative, Response Systems Clicker Committee, ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ, 2018
• Faculty Participant, Interfaith Literacy, Fluency, and Service Grant Program, ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ, 2018
• Content Creator, Tricentennial Festival—Mi Casa es Su Casa! Christus Santa Rosa Health System, the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, and ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ, 2018
• Content Creator, ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ Mission & Ministry Media, 2018
• Faculty Participant, Mission Leadership Retreat, ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ Mission and Ministry and ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ, 2018
• Faculty Presenter, Service Learning: Four Models, ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ Center for Teaching & Learning and the Ettling Center, 2018
• Faculty Participant, Client draping project for students in a Fashion Design, 2018
• Faculty Team Leader, Meet the Mission, ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ, 2017
• Faculty Participant, Increasing the Learning in Experiential Learning, ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ Center for Teaching & Learning, 2017
• Faculty Participant, Interfaith Literacy for All ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ Employees, ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ Center for Teaching & Learning, 2017
• School of Media and Design Representative, Presenting Our Gift, Mass of the Holy Spirit, 2017

Undergraduate Courses

• Computer Literacy for Communication Arts
• Convergent Media
• Design, Layout and Print Production
• Event Planning
• Introduction to Creative Publishing
• Multimedia Design and Production

Graduate Courses

• Seminar in Convergent Media