Stephanie Swindle Thomas

Stephanie Swindle Thomas is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Advertising/Public Relations at Pennsylvania State University's Bellisario College of Communications. She holds affiliate faculty status in the Department of Art History, where she teaches courses on museum marketing and virtual reality exhibition design. Her work emphasizes experiential learning, emerging technologies, and engaged empathy in communications education. She has over 19 years of experience in higher education and nonprofit sectors.

• Education: B.A. from Rhodes College; M.A. from Penn State

Her research interests span arts advocacy, multimedia advertising, and the application of augmented/virtual reality in creative industries. She leads writing/storytelling workshops and collaborates globally on arts projects. Professional roles include:

• Former Director of Social Media & Visual Assets (Penn State Office of Communications)
• Multimedia Consultant (Penn State Teaching and Learning with Technology)
• Adjunct Faculty (School of Visual Arts Professional Photography)

She currently co-leads the IT Student Technology Advisory Representatives group and is inaugural faculty for the Dreamery classroom pilot program. Her upcoming projects include developing a course on AR/VR advertising.

Thomas is a photographer with exhibited work and a published fiction writer. She mentors students through the Penn State Blue Band internship program and actively contributes to the Centre County arts community.