Dana Janbek was 17 years old when she packed her bags and moved to Louisville, Kentucky, from Amman, Jordan, to pursue a degree in computer science. A profound conversation with one of her faculties led her to switching majors and establishing a remarkable career in the field of communications.
Dr. Janbek is the Communication Director & Master Lecturer of Department of Mass Communication, Advertising and Public Relations, Media Science. She is the course director and mass communication faculty for COM CO 101: The World of Communication and is also the instructor for COMLab.
How has your journey been from Jordan to the USA?
Back then, the internet was just starting to become a mass medium in that part of the world. So when I headed to Kentucky, I didn’t know exactly where I was going. I landed at Spalding University, which turned out to be a great first stop. I did my undergraduate there in communication and had great faculty that I connected very well with. I then did my master’s at the University of Louisville. While completing both my degrees, I worked with immigrant and refugee communities through an organization called World Communities of Louisville and also through volunteer activities such as teaching English to immigrants and refugees. All these experiences were very valuable.
What inspired you to choose the path of communications?
I actually started as a computer science major, and I was very interested in computer science. But, while taking communication courses, I connected really well with my faculty there, and my mentor at the time, Professor Iverson Warinner, was one of the faculty I connected well with. And during one of my conversations with him, I decided to change my major.
I strongly believe that, often times, teachers and professors play a central role in the career choices of individuals.
Yes, he was that for me.
How did you get into the field of academia?
When I was a kid, after school, I would line up my stuffed animals and pretend to teach them, and I had a grade book and the whole thing. But, when I got my PhD from the University of Miami, I imagined that I would end up in consulting and doing research. I never imagined that I would teach.
But, as part of my research training, we were required to teach our own classes. I taught my first class then, which was public speaking, and then I taught intercultural communication. I just enjoyed teaching the students so much and connecting very well with them. So, after that experience, I decided that I could certainly see myself in academia.
And what brought you to Boston University?
That is another long story! I was working at Lasell College, which is now Lasell University in Newton. I had been there for almost 10 years. I was happy there, and I had a sense of community among the students, faculty, and staff. It felt like I knew everyone.
But, then, an opportunity came up to teach international communication at BU as an adjunct professor in the graduate program. I said yes to that opportunity, and I very much enjoyed teaching that class and connecting with graduate students.
About a year later, an opening came up for my current position, the Master Lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, Advertising, and Public Relations, and I decided to apply for it. I was very happy to have been chosen for the position. It was an easy decision in some ways because it is BU and the College of Communication at BU, but it was also a difficult decision to leave a community that I liked a lot.
On that note, can you share a particularly memorable or rewarding teaching experience you’ve had?
It was an international communication class that I taught as an adjunct professor years ago. I remember the names of the students in that particular class. We had around 10 students, and we built a really good community. They were all very interested in international communication issues and very serious about their studies. I remember the classroom too; it was in the COM building on the 3rd floor.
You have co-authored a book called “Global Terrorism and New Media: The Post Al-Qaeda Generation” and are also involved with research work. Can you discuss any ongoing research projects or upcoming publications that you’re currently working on?
I am currently working with the School of Public Health and with my colleagues from Lebanon on a research project related to refugee resilience and the use of communication technologies. My publications have fallen into two categories: research that looks at refugee use of communication technologies and research that looks at terrorism and terrorist organization use of the internet.
What would you suggest to encourage and support students who are interested in pursuing their own research projects or publications in communications?
Find a unique research agenda. There are many topics out there that have been researched and over-researched. But ideally, you want to find a topic that’s emerging and find a gap in the research where you can build a name for yourself. There are vehicles through the Communication Research Center (CRC) for students to connect with the faculty on research topics.
In your view, what are some emerging trends or challenges facing the communications industry today, and how do you prepare your students to navigate them?
All threats in communications are also opportunities, and it is our obligation to point out both. So certainly artificial intelligence and deep fakes, I would put those threats on top, and the best way to prepare students for this is to make sure that they are media literate and can distinguish content that is generated by a machine versus content that is generated by a human. It is also important to make sure that they continue to work on their writing skills, which will always be needed and admired by their future employers.
Lastly, how has your experience as an international student stayed with you all these years?
The fact that I came here as an international student, studied, and built a career—that experience and memories of the earlier years — I carry around in a little suitcase with me wherever I go. I have always been interested in learning people’s life stories and where they are from. It is a great icebreaker when somebody hears my accent and asks me where I am from, and I tell them my little story in two minutes, and they tell me their story.
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