Education

Ph.D., Communications, University of Navarra, 2022
M.S., Communications, University of Navarra, 2015
B.S., Family, Child, and Consumer Sciences, Florida State University, 2005

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Background

Elana Nichols joined the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management's Department of Retailing faculty as an instructor in fall 2022. She served as a visiting professor at Valencia College in Orlando, Fla., prior to joining the University of South Carolina.

Nichols spent the prior seven years teaching communications courses across the U.S. and internationally. In addition to teaching at Valencia, she taught business communication for managers to undergraduate and graduate students at North South University in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and business communication to undergraduates at the Zagreb School of Economics and Business in Croatia. Nichols also did an instructional stint with Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, Calif., teaching undergraduate courses in interpersonal communication.

Prior to working in higher education, Nichols taught classes at the high school level in English and social media at Florida Virtual School for three years. She began her teaching career at elementary schools upon earning her bachelor's and later was a middle school teacher as well.

Nichols earned her Bachelor of Science in family, child, and consumer sciences from Florida State University in 2005 and then received her Master of Science in communications from the University of Navarra in 2015. She also earned her Ph.D. in communications from Navarra in 2022.

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Publications

Etayo, C., & Nichols, E. (under review). What affects perceived quality? An examination of television fiction series. Journal of Media Psychology.

Leon, B., Negredo, S., & Nichols, E. (in progress). The human factor in climate change images on Twitter.

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Certifications

• Real Time Virtual Certification, Valencia College, 2021
• Digital Professor, Valencia College, 2016
• Elementary Education (Grades K-6), State of Florida, 2012-17
• English (Grades 6-12), State of Florida, 2012-17
• ESOL Endorsement, State of Florida, 2012-17