Andrea Fortin

Dr. Andrea Fortin serves as an Assistant Professor of Communication in the Department of Communication & Philosophy at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU). She also acts as the Faculty Coordinator of Micro-credentials and Digital Badges, collaborating with faculty, administrators, and local employers to develop programs for FGCU's initiative. Her teaching focuses on interpersonal and gender communication, compassion studies, and digital communication practices.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Communication, University of South Florida
• Graduate Certificate in Instructional Technology: Distance Learning
• M.A. in Public Communication, Fordham University
• B.A. in Communication and English, Florida Gulf Coast University

Research Interests: Compassionate communication practices, micro-credentialing programs in higher education, digital badging integration, and employability skill development. She emphasizes practical applications of communication theories in career-readiness frameworks.

Awards:

• Seidler Undergraduate Research Fellowship Faculty Mentor

Advising & Grants: Leads FGCU's Micro-credentialing initiative, partnering with local employers to align academic programs with workforce needs. Presented on topics like 'Transferable Skills Digital Badging' and 'Micro-credentialing Pathways' at national conferences (e.g., AAC&U, NACE).