Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
Ep. 0019 | Find Your Passion, Follow Your Purpose
43 Plays1 month ago
In this episode of The GR8TNESS Router, host Zena C. sits down with Dr. Erica N. Hilton, a Strategic Communications + Media Scholar and Assistant Professor of Strategic Communications at Hampton University, for a conversation that bridges scholarship, strategy, and soul.
With a career spanning higher education, national nonprofits, and digital activism, Dr. Hilton shares how her journey from aspiring publicist to award-winning educator revealed a deeper calling: to teach, to advocate, and to communicate for good.
Together, they explore what it means to take the pause in a world that demands instant responses, the lessons learned from moments of redirection, and how passion can guide us toward a purpose-filled life.
This episode is about resilience, discernment, and the power of aligning personal truth with professional calling.
– – –
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction to The Greatness Router Podcast
00:00:08
Speaker
This is the Greatness Router, where we connect purpose to process one conversation at a time.
00:00:23
Speaker
Welcome back to another episode of The Greatness
Meet Dr. Erica Hilton: An Influential Figure
00:00:27
Speaker
Router. It's me, Zena C. And I am here with an an amazing, an amazing guest who has has come in and out and in and out of my life. And I'm just so grateful to share this space and share our audiences and really discuss the story behind Dr. Erica Hilton. I'm so excited.
00:00:48
Speaker
How are you doing today? I'm great. Thank you so much for having me. Number one, I'm so excited to talk to you. i I was just saying not too long ago how what incredible person you were. And at the moment you came into my life with such a huge inspiration and you are part of my story. So to be here today to talk to you now and to share a bit of my story, I'm i'm really excited about.
00:01:09
Speaker
I am so stoked. This is going to be so bomb because y'all, I don't think you understand. And I haven't even gotten into her bio yet, but I don't think y'all understand. like Erica and I, or Dr. Hilton and I, we were in school together, but not. We were on different tracks by the time ah we crossed spaces. And our development as as professionals and as alum and as friends really developed after we graduated from Smith.
00:01:36
Speaker
um So I'm really excited to today to just share
Dr. Hilton's Career Overview
00:01:40
Speaker
this space. Anywho, all right. So today's guest is a powerhouse in media, strategy, and education. Dr. Hilton, Dr. Erica N. Hilton, let me get it right, is an assistant professor of communication and media at Methodist University, where she brings over 12 years of experience in strategic communication, digital strategy, and critical media studies into every space she enters.
00:02:03
Speaker
Her background is deep and dynamic. She's worked with the National Institutes of Health, an international labor union, and major national nonprofits, managing websites, social campaigns, digital ads, and even producing a docuseries on America's labor unions, Rebuilding the World Trade Center.
00:02:23
Speaker
She's also been editor in chief for two online publications and a lead writer for a presidential appointee at the Department of Veteran Affairs. In the classroom, Dr. Hilton is just as impactful.
00:02:36
Speaker
She's taught at Penn State, UDC, and now Methodist University. Designing Transformative Learning Experiences for Both Traditional and Nontraditional Students Using Design Thinking and Real World Application. I told y'all, y'all are in here for a treat.
00:02:51
Speaker
Her research explores how minority groups are represented in media and public relations, and she's presented nationally at top academic conferences. She holds degrees from Johnson C. Smith University, American University, and a PhD from Penn State.
00:03:07
Speaker
And word on the street says she has a perfect 5.0 on RateMyProfessor.com. Did you know that? Did you know that? I don't even know if that's like relevant, but did you know that? did Wow.
00:03:21
Speaker
Yes, ma'am. I'm here for sizing it left, right, and sideways. But anyway, Dr. Hilton, thank you so much. And welcome to the show. Welcome. Did I miss anything? Thank No, you did a dynamic job. So thank you. That's better than I could have done. And now I'm i'm blushing. So thank you for that awesome introduction.
00:03:41
Speaker
Oh, my gosh. That's just the start. Because i my goal is to have you like smiling ear to ear this entire episode. Okay. I am so serious. Like, I don't think people get their flowers the way they're supposed to get their flowers when they're due. And this is that day and this is that episode. So I hope you had a beautiful day because it's just about to get brighter.
00:04:00
Speaker
Okay. All right. So. That being said, I like to warm up our audience. And I like to say our because we're sharing space. It's my audience. It's your audience. We're learning about each other.
00:04:11
Speaker
And more specifically, our shared ah audience is really going to get a chance to pick up the gems that you've developed along your journey. And that's going to be the real beautiful part about it. But- To get us started, I have a couple of icebreakers.
Communicating for Good: Vision and Campaign
00:04:27
Speaker
You ready? ready. All right. Dr. Hilton, if you could create a media campaign to fix one common misconception about communication or media, what would it be and what would your tagline say?
00:04:44
Speaker
o okay. So I know immediately off jump, it's that communications and public relations, it is a field of manipulation. I absolutely disagree with that.
00:04:56
Speaker
My, my mission, my idea from the very beginning, when I knew I wanted to go into communication was how can I communicate for good? And so all of the communications work that I've ever done, all of the campaigns that I've worked on is how can I advocate on behalf of someone else you know just send out a really great message. And so think my tagline would be,
00:05:22
Speaker
Communicating for good. ah love it. Super basic. I love it. I wouldn't even say it's basic. Minimalist, but like with big passion because you it's real. I think that we get so locked down on the negative side of things because negativity is easy.
00:05:39
Speaker
but But putting positive spins on things, finding the the light when it's dark is difficult. But when you can really like hold up that that light for other people, it's a brilliant experience. So i kudos to you. I'm here for it.
00:05:53
Speaker
love it. I love it. right, here's my next question. And then we'll hop into our um our show. If you could have a candid, unfiltered conversation with any historical figure, but would it be and why?
00:06:10
Speaker
boom You know, every time i think about this question, my answer always changes. But I think right now I would love to have a conversation with Harriet Tubman.
00:06:24
Speaker
ooh And I think the reason why is because, you know, a lot of people, she left a lot of people behind.
00:06:35
Speaker
huh And so I'm curious about understanding her thought process behind that, especially now that I'm in education. And because my goal is to make an impact for all of my students, I want all of my students to succeed. I want them all to pass. I want them all to be passionate about something, even if it's not what I'm passionate for.
00:06:58
Speaker
But, you know, time to time, every, you know, every semester, and not even with just students, there's one or two people where it's like, Oh, no, that's not where I'm trying to go. Or I'm just not feeling it. and it's like, what do I do with that?
00:07:14
Speaker
Right. And i I think that's why I would love to have a conversation with her. Because That's, you know, I want to know what to do with that. Do I keep moving? Do I keep holding on?
00:07:26
Speaker
Or do i maybe send them to someone else who can add a little more passion than I can? and I would just love to have a conversation with her thought process and how she was still able to do what she did and and come to terms with what she couldn't.
00:07:42
Speaker
No, that's real. Like, how do you draw the line with discernment? Mm-hmm. How do you do that? Like when you have committed to the betterment of other people, where is that line of like, okay, I have done everything i can possibly concoct?
00:08:06
Speaker
yeah What am I going to do? like How am I going to move forward on this? And having a conversation with her specifically, can totally see that. Would you be surprised if I said be it has been toss up between Harriet Tubman and Nat Turner with that question on this podcast?
00:08:26
Speaker
Really? Yes. Yes. it A great deal of it has been Harriet Tubman Or Nad Turner. And for similar reasons on the sense of I need to know what they were thinking when they were going through said situations because yeah I need some context.
00:08:46
Speaker
it was it's It's a beautiful concept if you think about it. like So I respect it. I'm here for it. Thank you. Yeah, especially because I view, so I used to work in activism spaces.
00:08:59
Speaker
And although I'm in education now, I still view this as a different type of activism space. I'd love to have that conversation with her. So I'm glad others do too. Yeah, you're not alone, baby. You're not alone. You're not alone.
00:09:12
Speaker
Okay. So thank you for that. I think we have warmed up
From Teaching Aspirations to Communication Expertise
00:09:16
Speaker
and we are ready to hop into your router moments. All right. So let's talk about... the the purpose behind your work, why you have chosen to do what you're doing in this this current time and space, and more specifically, what you chose to become an expert in. Because that every audience, that's the that's the misnomer, I think, when it comes to PhDs. What we don't realize is that People who have their PhDs, who have that doctorate, are are specialists in a specific and very fine-tuned area where they are the expert on said topic. So let's really hop into why you chose the topic that you've chosen and what that works. So if you could pinpoint the moment you knew this was your calling, what would it be?
00:10:06
Speaker
High school. Yeah. I go all the way back. And I will say when it comes to education, I knew in middle school that I wanted to be a teacher. Wow. I and I I have, you know, I have old assignments and T-shirts where I wrote it out. And I will say I didn't know that it would be at this level, but I always knew that I wanted to be a teacher at some point. And then when high school came, I knew that I wanted to do communications, but I thought I wanted it to be a celebrity publicist.
00:10:36
Speaker
Originally the goal was to go to Hampton University and then i did not get enough money there. And my mom went to Johnson C Smith. So she said, you should just check it out. So shout out to mom, fellow golden bull. Shout out to mom. Went did a tour, saw your, shout out to Zena, number one.
00:10:51
Speaker
um my god I saw Xena's vote for me for SGA president posters everywhere said, who is this person? Saw that you are communications major. Oh my gosh. Graphic design. i loved my tour. And actually, I think my tour guide at the time was Brianna Sullivan. That's what an impact that tour had on me because I remember all of these little tidbits.
00:11:14
Speaker
But before there had a tour, saw that there was a really awesome communications program. and went to Smith and I thought that I was going to do celebrity be a celebrity publicist and at some point go and get my PhD and teach.
00:11:31
Speaker
But through the classes and my internships while at Smith, I started participating a lot more in social media. I took a class with Dr. Guffey, built my first website.
00:11:44
Speaker
um I was a volunteer for the League of Women Voters of Mecklenburg County set up their Facebook social media account. And I said, you know what? I think I really like this.
00:11:56
Speaker
Okay. Especially because Smith was also really laid the groundwork for me wanting to make the world a better place because, you know, we were, everyone was so passionate about how can we just, um how can we speak on behalf of others? And yeah wanted a way to put it together, but I still wasn't completely sure.
00:12:17
Speaker
um And then in graduate school for my master's program at American, I took a class and I hate that I don't remember the professor's name, but it was a ah digital activism course of social media activism.
00:12:32
Speaker
And that was when it all came together for me. So the social media, the website, learning that skill set and at Smith, along with the passion, I took this class and I said, oh, I can actually do this for a living.
00:12:46
Speaker
it. It's been nonstop ever since. I will say that as a PhD, my journey was a little different from others because I wanted hands-on experience in the communications industry.
00:13:01
Speaker
Oh, true. And so after my master's program, I did not go straight into getting my PhD. I decided I wanted to work and I wanted to work for for some time.
00:13:13
Speaker
so i started off at the Department of Veterans Affairs. and um ended up doing a lot of writing, speech writing. started an internal blog for their employees there. and It was awesome.
00:13:27
Speaker
um I loved it, but then I had the opportunity to work for labor union. So the Laborers International Union of North America, and I became an online activism manager.
00:13:39
Speaker
wow that was That was when it all just fit for me. And it was amazing. um absolutely loved it. And so all of my work focused on website, email, marketing, social media, but advocating for union members, advocating for labor rights. And it was such perfect work for me. And so I did that a few years, um did it for a few years before I went to Penn State for my PhD program.
00:14:08
Speaker
And my research really was at the intersection of critical media, but also the labor industry as well and and Black women. And so I was able to put it all together.
00:14:21
Speaker
And it's been such a great journey. Yeah. That's so impressive. and And I'm here for the full circle moments, like you being able to see the writings on the wall and really optimize those. I think that that's really one of your your skill sets, whether you recognize it or not, just being able to see the writing on the wall and then being able to conceptualize it, pull it together and really turn it into something even better. So I'm here for the transmutation process, babe.
00:14:51
Speaker
Thanks. No, I appreciate that. I really do. It's and certainly been a journey. And I don't know when I recognize, I don't i don't know when I guess that ah aha moment was, but I'm grateful that it just seemed to flow me.
00:15:12
Speaker
Yeah, for sure. For sure. um Well, maybe not an aha moment, but let's discuss a pivot moment or a pivot point for you. um Was there ever a time when you almost chose a different path? Because I know that you said that you did your your um bachelor's straight into your master's and then you decided to make the conscious decision, you know what, I'm going to take some time and apply everything I've learned before you hopped in. But was there ever just a pivot point where you I mean, you said you wanted to be a publicist and now you're, you know, ah college professor, which is so dope. Okay. I'm sorry. Answer your question.
00:15:49
Speaker
Pivot point. So there was almost a pivot point that a lot of people do not know. oh When I was working at the labor union, I don't know what happened, but I wanted, I thought I wanted to do something else.
00:16:05
Speaker
Okay. I applied for position at a news station in North Carolina. to be a social
Learning from Challenges in Communication and Academia
00:16:14
Speaker
media producer slash reporter. can it.
00:16:20
Speaker
And they flew me down and i did the interview. i did some testing on camera and it went really, really, really well. And, you know, they didn't make an offer, but they came back and said, hey, if we make an offer, this is what we would be offering you, which is probably a lot less than you're making. So we just want to know what you think.
00:16:42
Speaker
Before we let you know what we want to do, which was also very weird. ah Right. it's Very weird. And I will say that I don't know what it was. And I'm a person ah person of very strong faith.
00:16:56
Speaker
And it was just this feeling that, no, I don't think that's what I'm supposed to be doing. And it was so, it was so out. ah I don't want to say out of my wheelhouse, but it It didn't fit in the plan that I have for myself. But I also know that plans don't happen the way that we intend.
00:17:18
Speaker
But when I had that conversation with them, I just said, i don't think I'm ready to leave DC, number one. I don't think I'm ready to leave the work that I'm doing.
00:17:28
Speaker
And so I'm going to tell them no. yeah did it Did it feel good to say no? It was scary to say no. I can believe that.
00:17:40
Speaker
yeah I don't even know if it felt good, but at the time it was really scary because it seemed like such this cool opportunity where I could do social many media and be on TV and and take a pay cut you know, a big pay cut.
00:17:58
Speaker
So I just, I, you know, but I will say that not too long after that, I said, okay, I was supposed to say no, and I was supposed to continue on this path. And I have no idea where it'll take me, but I know I'm still supposed to be here.
00:18:15
Speaker
Okay. Okay. I love it. it's It is amazing how life, how our creator will take us all different types of ways just to put us right where we belong. And I love i love that you listen.
00:18:30
Speaker
i love that you listen to yourself. like that's that's That's just brilliant. um Let's talk resilience and process. What keeps you in the game when things aren't going smoothly?
00:18:42
Speaker
What keeps you going? Honestly, when things get rough, I tell myself that it's supposed to be difficult in this moment because there's something, while I don't know what it is in this moment, there's something I'm supposed to learn from this or there's something that I'm supposed to take away from it or there's something that it's turning me towards another direction for a reason. I'm very strong in my faith in that way because there have been every moment in my life that has been
00:19:14
Speaker
incredibly difficult. Something has come from it, whether it has been an incredible lesson or redirection or something bigger that has come from that.
00:19:27
Speaker
And that keeps me going. I try to look at everything as, okay, there's something, there's something here. And if I'm quiet enough and if I'm still enough, and if I continue being the person that I am, i don't alter my character, then I can, I can get what I'm supposed to get.
00:19:45
Speaker
from it. And i love that has not let me down so far. I love that answer so much because it's so true. i agree with you. i believe that there is and a lesson in absolutely everything.
00:19:58
Speaker
um And you just have to be open enough and creative enough and aware enough to recognize that that twisted ankle was supposed to happen. That stubbed toe was supposed to happen. You know, that flat tire was supposed to happen because...
00:20:16
Speaker
on the other side of what could have, should have, but have, you know? Absolutely. Because maybe you were so determined to run a certain race and, you know, so you're you weren't supposed to, but you weren't listening. You were like, I'm going to run it anyways because I want to win just to win.
00:20:34
Speaker
And... It doesn't work out. Then you stub your toe or you twist your ankle and now you can't run it. But because you didn't run it, you sat in the stands and you met this person who thinks you're awesome. And next thing you know, they say, here's my card.
00:20:46
Speaker
Email me. I have a job offer. I want you to be the VP of my organization. That's straight. I truly believe that that's what happens in at least my life. Look, i I agree with my, maybe we are delusional audience. I don't know, but I'm loving this. i I love that degree of delusion. i love knowing that, you know, something greater will come from this.
00:21:12
Speaker
And that helps me, that helps me go to that. That keeps me going as well. So thank you for sharing that, that that's a total gem. Yeah, no. And I i will say the other thing is that i I always think about the people who came before me and how I would not be here if it wasn't for them.
00:21:33
Speaker
Yes. and yes, you know, I've powered forward and I've gone through difficult times, but even to be able to go through these difficult times, I would not have that if there if it wasn't for them. I think about my mom, i think about people in the civil rights movement, I think about people just five years ago who advocated you know for better workplace conditions and for voter rights. And I recognize that and I say, well, if they got through that, then you know I should be able to to move forward. And that's not me saying not to set boundaries, that's not me saying put up with anything.
00:22:11
Speaker
um But it's me saying, OK, things aren't always supposed to be easy. They're not going to be easy. And that doesn't mean that I should be distracted by that.
00:22:23
Speaker
I agree. i love it. I think you put that ah very well. Great job. yeah Okay. So we've talked about the router moment. Let's hop into application um and the takeaways that our audience can run off with.
00:22:39
Speaker
um Lessons for others.
Enhancing Decision-Making and Educational Methods
00:22:41
Speaker
What is one mindset shift or practice that has helped you to succeed? One mindset shift or practice that has helped you to succeed? Take a pause.
00:22:58
Speaker
take um Take a pause. Whether it and I tell my students this as well. So if you get an email and it ticks you off, take a pause. Wait 24 hours before you respond.
00:23:11
Speaker
If you feel like quitting your job to move to North Carolina to be a news reporter, take a pause. Take a pause. Give it 12 hours. Give it 24 hours and see how you feel about it the next day.
00:23:26
Speaker
Are you certain? is it an automatic yes or are you wavering? Because I do think that that wavering tells us something that we don't often listen to And i do that. I always take that pause. That's something that I learned probably five, 10 years ago. But i I tell people to do it all the time, especially my students, no matter what.
00:23:50
Speaker
Take the pause. And be quiet and just sit with it and then determine how you feel. No big facts. So my dad used to have a um ah saying where if someone brought a problem to him, first of all, I agree with you. Let me let me start there. But I want to hop on the bandwagon a little bit.
00:24:10
Speaker
He would, when someone would bring him a fire or bring him an issue, His response would be, I reserve my right to think about this before I respond.
00:24:21
Speaker
And first of all, what going say to somebody who told you, you know what, give me a moment so I can think this through. I'm not i'm i'm not going to sit here and give you an automatic response. Let me process what you said to me. Let me take this into consideration. Let me let me do some research and let me get back to you.
00:24:38
Speaker
It's a real power play if you think about it. But I want to take this to the back of the back to when I first asked the question and I repeated the question and what you were actually doing, I believe. And call me out if I'm not.
00:24:50
Speaker
What you were actually doing was was giving the example of what you were what you were about to say, because I asked you and then I saw you pause that. Yeah, I can see her. So I saw you pause and I was just like, OK, let me let me repeat the question and buy some time, some airtime. But she was putting the pause in the middle of the podcast.
00:25:10
Speaker
Girl, you're genius. And I will say it took me a while to learn that because especially in the communication space, especially in the social media, we are taught to respond instantly. Don't let that downtime. We don't want things to spiral.
00:25:24
Speaker
And not only is that incredibly stressful, but I have gotten into trouble because i did not take that pause. And whether it's behind the scenes or saying things to people that, oh, I wish I wouldn't have said that. And then You know, I asked myself, well why did you say that? Because I spoke too soon because I was in a hurry. And then I follow up with, well, did I have to be?
00:25:47
Speaker
Why couldn't i you know, they never said that they needed to know immediately. Why did I feel so rushed enough to have to answer? And, um you know, I'm still learning, but I tell other people, you know, thanks, I'll get back with you tomorrow. Or i maybe just don't respond for 12 to 24 hours. And of course, it's different if something is urgent.
00:26:09
Speaker
But I think with society now, we are moving too quickly many times and we don't have to. And we have been trained to move so quickly, but take that pause.
00:26:21
Speaker
No facts. I love that. Thank you for sharing that. And then I'm going to add a little icing, which is a saying because you know, people need fighting words, right? People need words to articulate.
00:26:32
Speaker
So um i had an advisor that would say, your urgency is not my emergency oh or Yes, yes, yes.
00:26:43
Speaker
Or even flip it. Your emergency is not my urgency. Now I can choose to move quicker, but you do not get to dictate how I process and respond to the stimuli. ah baby Absolutely. you and now And I do want to add, you know,
00:27:03
Speaker
If we're dealing in crisis communication, that's a different story. Big facts. But on a day-to-day basis, and I have to say that as a comms person. Yes, you But on a day-to-day basis, um yeah, no.
00:27:14
Speaker
Mm-mm. Absolutely not. No, big big facts. I totally agree with you. um Okay. thank you for that. Let's talk about your process. How has your thinking evolved as you've advanced?
00:27:28
Speaker
Because that was very wise. the The take a pause was very wise, but how has your thinking evolved as you've gone through this journey and as you go through it? i will say, I believe that When I think about things now, I think about things holistically, at least a lot more than I used to.
00:27:50
Speaker
And a lot of that is because in addition to my career, I've had so much happen in my personal life. And the way, and, you know, I used to try to keep it separate, but I realize now that it's all connected.
00:28:08
Speaker
And the way that I want to show up at home, How I show up at work determines that.
00:28:19
Speaker
Okay. A few years ago, my mom got really sick and i wanted, well, number one, I needed to be more present at home.
00:28:30
Speaker
And then I think about what I almost lost just all of the things. And I said, okay, what do I need to do and my professional space?
00:28:41
Speaker
so that I can be who I want to be in my personal space. And so now, even when i when I'm teaching, um my teaching looks different because my thinking is different.
00:28:53
Speaker
And so when I'm having conversations with students or when I'm putting together my syllabi for the semester, it's not just about, you know what are the learning objectives for this course? What are they supposed to learn? It's also, how can they be well-rounded,
00:29:11
Speaker
individuals and you know how can i make sure that they are moving with empathy that they are considering compassion when they are navigating these spaces and i don't think you know when i started teaching in 2017 i didn't have that mindset in the beginning and i know that i do now because of the way that my thinking has evolved because of what i've gone through personally That's so beautiful.
00:29:41
Speaker
And again, very wise of you and very aware to recognize that how you spend your energy And in I'll say in public spaces is is important because you want to make sure you have the proper reserve tank by the time you get home or you really get into what you enjoy doing. Shoot. If you have a garden, you know, you want to make sure you have enough energy at the end of your day.
00:30:13
Speaker
to hop in and get your your fingers dirty in your in your own garden. So i that reserve, that is one true strategy that that i think a lot of us could really learn from. So thank you for sharing that. That's big.
00:30:29
Speaker
Yeah, of course. You're so wise. Life hits and then you you evolve and you're like, okay, now I get it. I get it. Let me move let me move differently. Yeah. No big facts, big facts.
00:30:42
Speaker
Okay. So future focus, what, what is next for you?
Current Projects and Strategic Communication Consulting
00:30:47
Speaker
How can people, how can the audience support you? What do you have in the works? You, you do everything.
00:30:53
Speaker
So, it's the smile for me. We'll say i do have some exciting things coming up that I can't share yet, but I will say when it comes to support right now, I'm just focused on my teachings.
00:31:11
Speaker
okay And my research. And I'm really excited to say that because typically it's, well, you know, I'm working on this paper or this book or putting together this panel or this show.
00:31:25
Speaker
And that's, you know, there are those things that I'm still working on, but I'm at this place in my life where I thoroughly enjoy what i do.
00:31:37
Speaker
i love it. And i am leaning into my teaching, trying to figure out ways to become a better educator. huh And, you know, I do that through research, through interviewing current industry professionals, because I'm no longer in that, that i don't want to say I'm no longer in that space, because i guess that's one thing I am working on.
00:32:01
Speaker
um i am working on a strategic communication consulting firm. So that's very, it's very, very early. i can see it. But I'm excited to do some consulting on the side. But even that I think that will help me become a better educator. Absolutely.
00:32:18
Speaker
so I'm really just leaning into that right now. It's incredibly exciting. I bet. I bet. Okay, wait. So let's let's share space a little bit when it comes to to teaching. So I started my career, out ah in air quotes, my career in teaching.
00:32:36
Speaker
So I was teaching at Winston-Salem State University, right? And I did that for three years, but I was really young. like i was where' You're talking a 24-year-old professor. like Well, not even professor, sorry. that That's reserved for y'all.
00:32:50
Speaker
um i was I was a, what was my clinical instructor? That's what I was. But um I was really young. So my mindset was not where it would be if I were teaching today, if that makes sense.
00:33:03
Speaker
So you as a teacher, someone who has always in their mind told themselves they going to be a teacher. Me, I was running away from it. Left, right, and sideways. Like, I don't want to do it. That's not my space.
00:33:14
Speaker
But what is What has been your largest class size and what has been your smallest when it came to to teaching? Smallest class size, class of three students.
00:33:26
Speaker
Wow. Three students. Wow. Was it a one hour, like ah like a regular three hour, like one hour a one three times a week for one hour? Was it like one of the extended classes? 75 minutes.
00:33:42
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. 75 minutes twice a week. And we talked about communication theory. That was that course. And that sounds fun though. It, it, yeah, a small, small classes, especially for theoretical work.
00:33:58
Speaker
It's incredible. Yeah. That's been my smallest. And I will say my largest has been about 25 and i teach a wide range of courses. So I teach communication theory social media, web design, ok critical media literacy, interpersonal communication, be political communication. And so I do have lot of- That is a big span.
00:34:24
Speaker
it is. And I will say that I think the reason why I'm able to do that is because, you know, I did the work for the PhD. I still do research.
00:34:35
Speaker
But I also worked for a really long time in the communications industry. So even after I completed my PhD program, I decided that I was not yet ready to teach full time. I wanted to make sure I had hands-on experience. And so I went back to the workforce full time working in the communication space.
00:34:56
Speaker
As Dr. Hilton? As Dr. Hilton. oh I think I had... two or three full-time positions post PhD, because i love the work. And I think that communications, it's one of those industries where, you know, it it's great to have the research and I'm not knocking anyone who has not been outside of academia. i'm absolutely not doing that.
00:35:22
Speaker
But for me and the type of educator that I want it to be, it was so important for me to lean on my previous work and campaigns. in the classroom.
00:35:33
Speaker
And so when I teach now, a lot of times I bring in campaigns that I've produced, that I've worked with and collaborated with people on. And I know last year I taught a strategic communication class and I put together a strategic communication speaker series.
00:35:51
Speaker
And a lot of the folks who... Not the lyceums. Yeah, right? In one class. It was so, shout out to J.C.S.U. for those lyceums. But a lot of the people who...
00:36:03
Speaker
were were people that i i worked with at previous jobs. And so David Lee, he's at National Geographic now, him and I worked on numerous campaigns and he spoke to my student, um Gina Physick.
00:36:15
Speaker
We worked together at Advancement Project. Even one of my students from Penn State who is now at Ketchum, she spoke. And it was such an incredible thing. And I know that I wouldn't have been able to do that if I didn't have the career that I did before. Right.
00:36:32
Speaker
teaching full time. And i that's what I like to tell people. I've actually had two careers. And I and all fact being here now, it allows me to bridge that. And even when i put together assignments, it is very much designed around the work that I've done.
00:36:50
Speaker
And even my policies in the classroom, for when students send me an email, it has to be professionally written, we have a class session in every class at the very start of the semester where I teach them how to send a professional email.
00:37:05
Speaker
Because I say, you know, if I was your boss, you cannot put together an email with typos and just like, hey, it doesn't work like that. And even when I know my students do not like this, but when they have presentations, if they want to reschedule, they have to reach out and notify me at least 24 hours advance.
00:37:24
Speaker
and advance or they cannot reschedule, they cannot make that up. And I'm i'm very firm on that. Because when i worked for the and NIH, the NIH was my client. And so I did not not show up to a presentation or I could not reschedule it last minute.
00:37:40
Speaker
And i want them to learn that now in my classroom so that they can apply it. And I probably would not do that if I didn't have the experience that I did. Wow. That is so real though. And, and you're doing work and I can't say that others aren't doing it because I've been out of higher ed for a while and I feel like, and I'm not going to say it's the new trend, but I feel like this is the new wave of applying, putting the actual application to the theory, which takes me into my point. Like I feel as though you have broken the mold on
00:38:16
Speaker
the the old adage, at least I'm to call it an adage. don't know it's truly one. Where it's like those that don't do teach. yeah And that's not what you're doing. Like you literally were like, well, I did.
00:38:32
Speaker
And I'm teaching and I'm walking. i can't even say the fine line. We're going to say the bridge between the two, because I am bringing forth the, the expertise that I've acquired along the way.
00:38:45
Speaker
At the same time, I know theory, like the back of my hand, that is so dope of you. No, I appreciate that. And I will say, you know, it's definitely not just me. I work with people now at Methodist across different programs.
00:38:58
Speaker
And it's really awesome because many of them have had careers before coming into academia full time. Wow. And when we have conversations.
Integrating Theory and Practice in Teaching
00:39:08
Speaker
is Okay, how can we bridge the gap?
00:39:11
Speaker
Let's put together this program. um Maybe we can have some folks come to speak to our students. and And I'm grateful that that's what's happening in education, that people are are open to it.
00:39:24
Speaker
And, you know, I don't want to say that education is is shifting because we're still bringing the theoretical aspect to it, which is so incredibly important. because I agree. Even in my classes now, in my my previous, my critical media literacy class, they for their final project, they did a critical media literacy campaign.
00:39:45
Speaker
And when they put it together, they had to use three concepts, whether they were theories or principles that we talked about, And they had to use that to develop their campaign. So they didn't have to use that terminology, but it was saying, okay, how can I consider and engage with agenda setting theory when I'm developing this campaign? Yes.
00:40:05
Speaker
Yes. And understanding that all of these things that you're learning now, including the theories, even if you never go to graduate school, it matters. And it should be applied if you want to create work that truly moves people, that truly moves that needle.
00:40:22
Speaker
you have to consider the theory behind it. You have to have your work grounded in theory and then figure out how to apply it to practice. Absolutely.
00:40:32
Speaker
Absolutely. Oh my goodness. That was so eloquently said. Like I would, I would totally audit your class. I would totally come in come on and just, I would totally come and I would want to be a fly on the wall just to, because i don't think but they may, i don't know if your students fully know like the magnitude of preparation and love that you're pouring into what you're, you're spoon feeding them.
00:41:00
Speaker
Like you're, you are teaching them how to be professionals before they graduate, which a lot of schools miss the mark on. And that's so brilliant that you are you have, have decided to stand in that gap and be like, look, you can, you can use my shoulders across this bridge. I got you, but you don't have to do the work too.
00:41:17
Speaker
Absolutely. And that's one thing I want them to work hard, but I'd rather they're going to have to learn it at some point. And if they can learn it from me before they get out, before they leave and graduate, then it helps their careers. They don't have to learn that lesson and and they don't have to be embarrassed in front of a bunch of people.
00:41:38
Speaker
I tell them all the time, this is the place to make those mistakes. yeah I'd rather, you know, you slip up and you say something in front of me and we can work through it. This is a classroom we're we're learning. And I tell them all the time, I also learn from you.
00:41:50
Speaker
And so I will have mishaps too. And that's okay because this is a space where we we learn, we grow, we make those mistakes and that's how we can move forward.
00:42:01
Speaker
I love... Oh my gosh. I am so in awe. So funny story, y'all. And I started to say this earlier, but Erica and I, we went to school together, but i was a senior when she was a freshman.
00:42:14
Speaker
And so we crossed paths, but more so after we graduated. So I was SGA president Erica's senior year. i mean, her her freshman year. yeah my So my senior year at Smith, I was SGA president.
00:42:26
Speaker
And she was a freshman coming in like a tidal wave. So then when after I've graduated and I've come back, we're talking some years later, a um administrator actually pulled me to the side and and was like, you know Erica, right?
00:42:41
Speaker
And I was just like... do I need to know Erica? And they were like, yes, she needs to be on your radar. Matter of fact, you need to get on hers. I was like, say less. That may not be the terminology I used, you know, back in the early you know, but- but I kept an eye watching and learning vicariously through your your um your accolades and through your journey. So this has been a beautiful conversation for you to even fill me in on what I was watching
00:43:16
Speaker
from a highlight reel. like So I didn't even get to see the full B-roll or the full conversations or the full nitty gritty, but I have definitely been able to watch your blossoming as a as a young woman and now as this full-fledged professor and communications professional. So it's incredibly beautiful to see you really thriving and doing the thing and doing the work for people. So girl, don't ever let anybody know they shine. You just keep... You just keep doing what you're doing because you are truly training up the next wave of young people and and question askers.
00:43:54
Speaker
and I know that that's a terrible way to put that, but that's that's just what you're doing. And it's beautiful. And I'm grateful for you. no I'm grateful for you too. Because we gotta you have to let this shine from you too. Because you know i was telling you before this that- It ain't about me.
00:44:11
Speaker
Z, Zena, C. No, no, no. I mean, it may not be about you, but, you know, I talk about the people that come before us. And Zena, when I was a freshman, you were truly an inspiration to those of us in the freshman class.
00:44:27
Speaker
We would look at you. We would look at all of the things that you did on campus because you were this young woman who majored in communications and so incredibly brilliant.
00:44:39
Speaker
and talented. And you were all over the place, not just on campus. Literally. Yeah. But in the community, in the Charlotte community too. And so to be able to sit back and to see that, that made me want to become you my freshman year. Oh, gosh. And she surpassed me and it's beautiful.
00:44:57
Speaker
but not only to want to to be there, but to feel like I could do it because I saw you doing it.
Passing on Educational Values and Legacy
00:45:04
Speaker
And, you know, i talk about the people who come before me and even in education,
00:45:09
Speaker
The educators that we had at Smith, they pushed us so hard. I tell my students all the time, you know I push you hard. Yeah, I say some things and you're like, what? I can't believe you said that.
00:45:19
Speaker
And I'm like, this is not even half of what was said to me. But people said it because they cared. They told us to look a certain way, to show up. you know They called us out when our work was great. They told when we were lazy.
00:45:34
Speaker
remember- Dr. Harris, you'll you know, we were like, oh, we've been up for the night studying for your exam. And she was like, that's nice, but you'll sleep when you're dead. So I don't understand. and you know, and so.
00:45:46
Speaker
i love it. I think now it's just I'm trying to to give back what they put into me. I'm trying to pass that along. Even my mom, huge shout out to her. She was an educator over 30 years.
00:45:58
Speaker
yeah And she worked at Fayetteville State University most of that time. And I remember growing up and seeing her spend time with her students. And when she would take students to conferences, she would force them to go to a fancy restaurant.
00:46:14
Speaker
And they would hate it because they wanted to use that money, you know, to get something cheap so you could pocket the rest. But she wanted them to do it so that they would have that experience, which is not something that's on a course syllabus.
00:46:29
Speaker
And when I think about the people before us, how hard they pushed us and how they wanted to make sure that we became well-rounded individuals who could change the world a little piece at a time.
00:46:42
Speaker
um if i if I don't do the same, then i think I'm wasting all of that because to pour into me and then me not do that to my students, you know, what am I doing?
00:46:56
Speaker
It's almost like, Like it's such it's such a selfish way to live. And yet what do they say? To whom much is given, much is required. And that's really how I try to live my life as an educator. So I appreciate you saying that because I do try to pour a lot into my students. But I think that that I'm supposed to. And hopefully they they take away something from that.
00:47:23
Speaker
Oh, they clearly are with your 5.0 on super joke on that. RapeMyProfessor.com, I do not know how relevant it is in the sense of foot traffic, but for someone to feel the need...
00:47:39
Speaker
to go on there and make, or people to go on there and actually like rate you, regardless of whether there's a lot of foot traffic there, that there, there's a lot of credence in that to me about you. Like that just speaks volumes of like, I don't care if you ever like, don't take this teacher, you need to go and see what this teacher is all about. Like, I think that that's just, it's very honoree. Like I love it.
00:48:04
Speaker
can appreciate it. Look at you being all loved and stuff. Thank you. And you know, I was going to say, you know, you talk about this 5.0, this five stars. Watch by the time this episode comes out. It's probably going to drop down.
00:48:17
Speaker
You know, end of a new semester. We'll see. We'll see. No, no, no, no. And it doesn't matter because we've already put it on wax. As of right now, it's 5.0. And in my mind, it will always be 5.0 because you're five star. I'm here for it. Straight like that.
00:48:32
Speaker
That's all that matters. Straight like that. Okay. So before we wrap, what is it? I like to do a rapid fire. Like I like to do ah a mind blow ish type of question.
00:48:44
Speaker
What is one thing that people do not know about you? Public facing thing. But what is one thing that people just do not know about the Dr. Erica Hilton? when I am probably one of the biggest nerds that you will ever meet.
00:49:01
Speaker
It's always your kind. yeah You know, I love the sci-fi. I love Jurassic Park. I love books. I'm a huge nerd. And most people don't love it most people at all know that.
00:49:13
Speaker
I mean, I guess you could kind of assume that because I have a PhD and I think anyone with a PhD is technically a nerd because obviously. Technically, but you're yeah're super cool if you're going to call yourself nerd. I think you're i think you're just very cultured.
00:49:28
Speaker
think you're very cultured. But I love dinosaurs. I love Jurassic Park. I love zombies. Most people don't realize that. my gosh. Oh my goodness. But a huge, huge nerd.
00:49:40
Speaker
And I've embraced it over the years. I've embraced that. As you should. Look, I'm all about authenticity and being the best version of yourself possible.
Personal Insights and Finding Purpose
00:49:48
Speaker
And if the best version of yourself possible is curling up with a book, a candle, a cup of tea, and minding your own business and drinking your water at the same time, I'm here for it. i Look, I respect it on all levels. Look, don't let these...
00:50:01
Speaker
Audience, so let these don't let these people have y'all fooled. Okay? Mind your business. i Mind your business. Watch your own two feet and enjoy what you enjoy.
00:50:13
Speaker
Read the books. Listen to the music. Play the music. um you know Whatever makes you tick, find that and hone in on it and really develop that because that is...
00:50:26
Speaker
who you are. That is what you enjoy as a person. And that is, I just, I love this podcast because it just allows people to be themselves and encourage that, that degree of conversation. So is there anything I missed, anything that I should have plucked at that we didn't talk about that you would like to put on the docket?
00:50:48
Speaker
No, just actually, yes. Find your passion and let that lead you to your purpose. find your passion and let that lead you to your purpose.
00:50:58
Speaker
Because I think, you know, this podcast is about our journeys and and success. And there's no way I would have gotten to where I am yeah I didn't love what I do. And that is both communications and education.
00:51:16
Speaker
And being able to realize that both of those two pieces are my passion. And even though in my journey, I didn't have someone at least at the time, have a journey that looked like what i wanted mine to look like, I i was able to say, well, if this is what I want to do I'm going to figure it out anyways. Because there is always space to create what we need.
00:51:43
Speaker
Just because something is doesn't look like it exists for you, it doesn't mean that it can't. And yeah, so I want to leave folks with that because that has truly helped me.
00:51:58
Speaker
I concur. And I think that that was beautifully stated. um i don't even have a, I don't, I don't have a contest to that. that That's back. Mic drop.
00:52:08
Speaker
Hold on. What's she say? Pause. Did she say pause? Take that pause. Take that pause. I love it. Oh my goodness. Okay. So how can people find you? How can the audience find you?
00:52:19
Speaker
So I'm on Instagram threads, LinkedIn. It is E R I C A H L T N. um That is where I exist all over the internet. That's even my email address ericahltn at gmail.com. I love to collaborate with folks.
00:52:37
Speaker
I love to talk with folks. And so if you want to have conversations or work on some projects, I'm currently working on a ah project around sex in the city, this new Yeah.
00:52:49
Speaker
Yeah. that The comeback. Oh, that sounds awesome. So if you want to talk pop culture or strategic communications or social media, um definitely hit me up.
00:53:00
Speaker
Definitely hit me up. I love that. And this is completely off topic. And what did I say? I might delete later, um but this is completely off topic. So on Sundays when I was at Smith, I would reserve those for eating chips and salsa and watching one of the Sex and the City DVDs. Like I had all of the seasons because they were on sale at Walmart for like five bucks one year.
00:53:24
Speaker
So I bought all the seasons. I think there's like eight of them. bought all of them. So I would reserve Sundays for for eating chips and salsa and watching Sex and a City, like full DVD. I would pop that in and just watch it. So I am excited to see whatever this project is that you have coming out of the woodworks. Please share that information with me because I want to see it. That was completely off topic, but I'm so excited. Yeah.
00:53:52
Speaker
so excited to hear more about this. um But yes, that is what I have for the greats, for all of our great listeners. Is there anything else that we need to say before we chop it out?
00:54:03
Speaker
No, just thanks for having me. It's been great having this conversation and also just reconnecting with you. um And I am inspired by what you're doing. And I know that These are the stories that folks need to hear. And so I'm glad that year you're creating a space for that.
00:54:19
Speaker
Thank you. And I agree with you. Look, I was talking to my mom and I was just like, people don't know that black doctors exist. i was like, and this is just beyond like dentists and medical doctors, like, and they're people and they're cool and they're human.
00:54:34
Speaker
Let's start these conversations. So thank you for believing in this um and this concept, this podcast for me and being a beautiful guest and sharing your beautiful story and just being open to ah to share space with me. I'm grateful for you. To our audience, I'm grateful for you.
00:54:54
Speaker
Please... rewind this, take your notes, really take what Dr. Hilton has said to heart and really, you know, or even like a grain of salt, take what you need and leave what you don't share what you need and, and leave behind what you don't for someone else. But I am truly grateful for you for attention is the greatest gift that you can pay to someone next to love.
00:55:15
Speaker
And I hope that ah you have a beautiful, beautiful day. See ya.
00:55:23
Speaker
And that's a wrap on this episode of The Greatness Router. If you found some value in today's conversation, be sure to subscribe, rate, and definitely share. It helps more people connect to the journey of greatness.
00:55:36
Speaker
Until next time, keep moving with purpose.