Faculty Focus, Dr. Miriam Bryant
Professor & Communications expert.
East Tennessee State University. Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate.
United States Navy veteran.
International marketer.
Coalfields native.
How did you find your way to Northeast State?
I am from Pound, Virginia. My father was a coal miner. My mother was a stay-at-home mom. The best way I felt to get to college was to join the Navy and served on active duty for five years until 2003. So I went to college and initially wanted to be a lawyer because I loved political science. I did my Master’s degree in communications with an emphasis in Business Management. I did international marketing for a number of years while I was teaching communications part-time as an adjunct. I started to feel that I was happier with my part-time job than with my full-time job. So I applied for communications faculty jobs. Those are really hard to get, but I was fortunate a position opened here at Northeast State.
What is the appeal of communications as a major and career?
Speech is an amazing major because it provides students a basis to all the behavioral science degrees. You will be seen as a more competent communicator than others. When people realize, ‘Oh, I can have a conversation with you’, you become a much stronger candidate in your field. I tell students it is all about how you market yourself.
Why does public speaking terrify people?
Most are terrified of it because they are striving for perfection. We think a speech has to be memorized and rehearsed perfectly. You memorize the entire speech and never deviate from it in a serious tone. That is the worst kind of speech. I want them to understand that they can take a breath and realize it is the extension of a conversation.
How do you want students to see communications and the messages they encounter?
That we consume a great deal of media messages that shape who we are and how we see ourselves and others in the world. News and entertainment media are products. The person who created the message you see is seeking to sell more of their product. I want them to understand what they are seeing. They need to understand behind all these media messages they receive is the desire to make a profit. Even if it is heartfelt and has a great cause behind it, there is a profit motivation there.
With all the diverse methods of communications especially social media, have people become better or worse communicators?
Everyone is more conflict avoidant today. It has become harder to communicate because no one wants to have a negative interaction. I try to teach students that everybody is not going to agree with you. I teach them that you have to be able to communicate face to face. You have to handle conflict constructively wherever you work.
What appeals to you about Northeast State?
As a division department, I feel like I have gained a new family. It is really nice to know you can rely on that. We celebrate each other successes. Whatever challenges that arise, I know faculty remains focused on our students. My experience with them has strengthened my loyalty to the college.
As a Navy veteran, what advice do you give to a military veteran or any non-traditional student seeking to start anew by seeking his or her college degree?
It is never too late to start over. I didn’t start college until I was 24 years old. If you aren’t happy, make a change. For the traditional students that is usually easier to accept than the non-traditional student. But it is true. Your situation doesn’t make you, you make your situation!