Samantha Guajardo

PhD Student, Communication and Film

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About

Sam Guajardo earned her M.A. in Communication from the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley and holds a certificate in Training and Development. She is a third-year PhD candidate in Communication at the University of Memphis, specializing in Rhetoric and Media Studies. Her research focuses on identifying Latiné leaders involved in grassroots efforts and their contributions to social, cultural, and political initiatives. As an educator and trainer, Guajardo is dedicated to creating equitable learning environments where students and trainees feel heard, valued, and appreciated. She emphasizes amplifying the unique perspectives each individual brings and fostering spaces where these voices are celebrated. With over four years of experience as a consultant in writing and communication centers and as a graduate instructor for COMM 2381: Oral Communication, Guajardo’s teaching philosophy is rooted in coalition pedagogy. She rejects the "banking model" of education and embraces approaches that promote social change and activism.
 
 

Education

Ph.D. in Communication (forthcoming) - The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN

M.A. in Communication and certified in Training and Consulting - The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX

B.A. in Communication Studies and a minor in English - St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, TX

A.A. in English - South Texas College, McAllen, TX

 

Publications

Guajardo, S. M. (2025). A nun honors the sacredness of life at the southern border: Sr. Norma Pimentel’s campaign against stigmatizing immigrant narratives in the media. Journal of Communication and Religion, 47(4). (Accepted for publication).