Dr. Emily Acosta Lewis, Professor of Communication and Media Studies at Sonoma State University, is an AI leader on campus whose work focuses on generative AI, career readiness, experiential learning, and student success. She earned her PhD in Communication Arts from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and teaches courses in public relations, with a growing emphasis on how AI is reshaping professional communication, workplace preparation, and higher education. Dr. Acosta Lewis helps faculty, staff, and students think critically and creatively about the role of generative AI in teaching, learning, communication, and career preparation. Her work emphasizes practical, ethical, and equity-minded uses of AI that prepare students for a rapidly changing professional landscape. A first-generation college graduate, Dr. Acosta Lewis is committed to helping students build practical career skills through high-impact educational practices, including service-learning, collaborative projects, undergraduate research and real-world public relations work.