Teaching

I am an Assistant Professor of User Experience Design whose teaching spans undergraduate and graduate instruction across UX, digital media, emerging media, and interaction design. My teaching began in 2016 as a graduate student at the University of Georgia’s New Media Institute, where I developed an insatiable curiosity for all things digital media, technology, and critical studies.

Since then, I have taught extensively at Western Kentucky University and the University of Georgia in residential, online, and hybrid formats. My teaching emphasizes UX design, interface design, and design strategy. I’ve taught foundational courses all the way to capstone courses, and many courses in between, including advanced studios, graduate seminars, internships, capstones, and directed studies, alongside significant curriculum and program development at both institutions.

I bring a practice-informed, interdisciplinary approach that bridges design, technology, and public engagement, and I regularly integrate industry tools, speculative methods, and experiential learning into my courses. I’m experienced in all stages of teaching in higher education formats: program development, assessment, curriculum review, and curriculum proposals.

Beyond the classroom, I contribute to teaching and learning through workshops, outreach programs, and public-facing presentations that introduce UX and digital product design to diverse audiences, from graduate students to high school learners.

As an educator, I believe that every student has the potential to learn and grow, and it is my responsibility to create a positive and supportive learning environment that encourages and challenges students to reach their full potential.

Just as user experience practitioners place users at the heart of their designs, I exercise a student-centered approach to teaching, which means that I prioritize my students’ needs and interests and strive to make the learning experience meaningful and relevant to them. 

To support constructivist theory of learning, I value active learning, where students are actively engaged in the process of constructing their own understanding rather than passively receiving information from me. I use a variety of teaching methods to engage students and create a collaborative classroom environment. This typically includes hands-on activities, group projects, the use of technology, as well as more traditional methods such as lectures and discussions. 

I consider diversity and inclusion as key to creating a welcoming and equitable classroom, and I strive to create a learning environment that is inclusive and respectful of all students, regardless of their background or identity. As a lifelong learner, I welcome the opportunity to learn from my students and am always open to hearing their perspectives and feedback. 

Overall, my teaching philosophy is centered on creating a positive, engaging, and inclusive learning experience that challenges and supports students as they grow and develop as learners, designers, and critical thinkers. 

  • Obtained one of the inaugural Teaching AI grants through WKU’s Center for Innovative Teaching & Learning (Summer 2024)
  • Finalist in Western Kentucky University’s inaugural Transdisciplinary Opportunity Grant (TOP, Fall 2023)
  • Awarded the “Student Career Success Influencer Award 2024” and “Student Career Success Influencer Award 2022” by the University of Georgia’s Career Center. This award is based on student nomination, given to faculty and staff who have had a significant, positive impact on the career decision-making process. The 2024 award is notable because I’ve taught that cohort one class. Making a significant, positive difference in one online, remote class is awesome!
  • Teaching 21 journalists from the country of Georgia about digital product design, sponsored in part by the US Department of State
  • Winning the Roland Page Award for Outstanding Graduate Faculty during a global pandemic (2020 – 2021). This award is given to one graduate faculty member of the Grady College of Journal and Mass Communication each year who’s made an impact on graduate students.

Western Kentucky University

  • Intro to User Experience Design (UX 220)
  • User Interface Design (UX 330)
  • Future Design (UX 310)
  • Digital Media (ART 243)
  • Special Topics in UX & Design (ART 498)
  • IDEA Lab (ART 399/499)
  • UX Internship (ART 399/ART 499)

University of Georgia

  • Emerging Media Interaction Design and Usability (JRMC 8016; NMIX 7013)
  • New Media Design (NMIX 4011/6011)
  • Web Development (4011/6011)
  • New Media Capstone (NMIX 4410/6410)
  • Topics in Digital Platforms and Dynamic Media I (ARGD 4190) 
  • Topics in Digital Platforms and Dynamic Media II (ARGD 4191) 
  • Learning for Success at the University (UNIV 1201S)
  • New Media Topics (NMIX 4200)
  • New Media Directed Study (NMIX 6490)
  • Graduate Internship (JRMC 7220)

Western Kentucky University

  • Bachelor of Science in User Experience
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in User Experience
  • User Experience Certificate
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts (across concentrations)
  • Bachelor of Arts in Visual Studies

University of Georgia

  • Emerging Media Masters — both online and in-person
  • New Media Certificate — graduate and undergraduate levels

With both the soft knowledge and the hard technical skills that I learned from this course, I will be better suited to accomplish my professional goals. This is because I now not only have the skills to design a brand or user interface, but I also am knowledgeable about the entire process and how to work with others throughout each step. To conclude, I really enjoyed this course; I would like you guys to know that, though this course moves fast, it felt like one of the most informational and valuable classes I have taken in college.

Rebecca Tian, NMIX 4011: New Media Design
Reflective Course Summary • Summer 2022

I never would have thought that I would enjoy learning how to make AR filters or even be able to, but through this project, I got to learn all about AR and wound up absolutely loving it so much.

Nick Milavec, NMIX 4510: New Media Capstone
Reflective Course Summary • Fall 2022

Anonymous Evaluations

  • Leah Moss [Moss is my maiden name] taught me everything I know about website design, which is the reason why I was able to get a job as a full-time Digital Designer starting next month. Literally owe my career to her. 
  • This class (New Media Design) helped me get into UX. Learning about the history and ethics was great! I enjoyed the projects we did.
  • Leah’s energy was really infectious. It was a joy to watch her, because I knew coming out of any of the lectures I was going to be left inspired. 
  • “What did you like most about this course (New Media Design)?” Everything.