Tamera Cole

Tamera Valentine Cole is an Instructor in the Department of Communication at Western Carolina University (WCU), part of the College of Arts and Sciences. She holds a Master of Arts in Communication from Louisiana State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, Political Science, and Secondary Education from Auburn University (summa cum laude). Her professional roles include teaching at LSU, Southwestern Community College, and WCU, with a focus on interdisciplinary communication education.

• Education:
• M.A., Communication, Louisiana State University
• B.A., Communication, Political Science, Education (summa cum laude), Auburn University

Dr. Cole's research emphasizes intercultural communication, perception, and persuasion. She is passionate about fostering critical thinking and communication skills through an interdisciplinary lens, integrating liberal arts disciplines like political science and history. Her teaching highlights include courses in Cherokee communities and foundational communication at WCU.

Awards and Honors:

• Triple Speech National Champion (DSR-TKA)
• Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
• Lambda Sigma National Scholarship Honor Society
• WCU First Year Advocate

She holds National Teacher Certification and is licensed in multiple states for Speech Communication, English, and Social Studies. Her career spans over four decades, with experience in public, private, and home education settings.