DR. MEGHANA RAWAT
Assistant Professor of Strategic Communication, Utah Valley University
I am a social science researcher and educator. My work focuses on organizational collaborations, relationships and the structures they operate within. My goal is to advance evidence-based and participatory models to evaluate communication in collaborative networks.
(pronouns: she/ her/ hers)
ABOUT ME
I am an assistant professor of strategic communication at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. I teach public relations writing, communication research methods and social media content creation. I have a Ph.D. from Purdue University majoring in organizational communication. Overall, I have 11 years of professional experience in strategic communication, M & E approaches, and research methodologies across for-profit, nonprofit sectors, and academia. My dissertation focused on collaborations in public health, specifically the role of communication in building trust and sharing knowledge in organizational networks. I have collaborated on data collection and impact evaluation of locally led peacebuilding efforts in West Africa and have led research projects to evaluate stakeholder relationships of nonprofit organizations and menstrual health education in India. I have also collaborated on interdisciplinary and multi university projects to examine local resource networks in Indiana during COVID-19, and the impact of free menstrual management products on cultural taboos of menstrual health. I have experience in managing an online masters program in strategic communication at Purdue University and I have designed and taught a global CSR ethics class in Bogota, Colombia. My goal is to advance community based research and bring in global and diverse perspectives in the classroom as an educator.
EDUCATION
2017 - 2021
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
My dissertation examined the role of communication in forming knowledge and resource sharing collaborative networks in Indiana. I applied a qualitative networks lens to evaluate effectiveness.
2015 - 2017 (M.A.)
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
I earned my second masters with a major in public relations, and minors in organizational communication and mixed research methods. My thesis was a case study to analyze how a social enterprise for domestic-help welfare maintained public relations in absence of funds to hire a PR professional.
2010 - 2011 (M.A.)
UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES
I earned my first masters degree in Sydney, Australia gaining experience in launching PR and Advertising campaigns and concepts of not-for-profit marketing.
2006 - 2009 (B.A.)
DELHI UNIVERSITY
I earned her bachelors in Mass Media and Mass Communication (BMMMC). I have experience in radio and video production, journalism and public relations skills.
SKILLS
SOFTWARE & ANALYSIS
I am skilled in qualitative and quantitative research methods. I have working knowledge of R, E-net, AutoMap and NodeXL for network analysis. I am proficient in SPSS, Jamovi, Qualtrics and RedCap. I am an expert in thematic analysis, reflexive coding and has operated Dedoose and NViVo platforms for qualitative analysis.
RESEARCH & WRITING
I have expertise in designing studies using surveys, focus groups, and interview methods. Upon invitation, I have collaborated on projects to evaluate peacebuilding, climate change adaptation, and health evaluation. In these projects, I lend my expertise in study conceptualization & design, thematic analysis, and data collection. These collaborations have resulted in development of journal articles, popular press pieces, and whitepapers.
GRANTS & EVALUATION
In have led and contributed to grant development in nonprofit organizations and academia. I have worked with Oxfam, UN Women, Gates Foundation, and USAID as an M&E expert in India. I have won competitive grants such as the Global Synergy and Purdue Research Foundation grants in graduate school. I am adept in conducting logical model driven impact assessment, and participatory evaluation.
TEACHING & MENTORING
I have taught undergraduate courses in public speaking, science communication, intercultural communication, public relations, persuasive communication theories, and organizational communication. As a team member within the online masters' program,I collaborated to develop a platform for alumni engagement, assess student feedback, conduct faculty seminars for course development, and revamped the global public relations course. I have mentored undergraduate interns to develop research projects and has served as graduate liaison for incoming graduate students.
