My teaching showcases various courses and experiences throughout my career.

Curriculum Vitae

EDUCATION

University of Denver | Denver, CO, 2018 — Present
E.d.D., Curriculum and Instruction
Enrolled in doctoral-level coursework to begin work on a Dissertation in Practice centered on Active Learning and Hybrid Classrooms.

University of Colorado | Boulder, CO, 2003 — 2005
M.A., Journalism and Mass Communications Research
Completed thesis titled “The Folk Devil Goes Digital: Taping and Trading Live Music in the Digital Age,” conducted qualitative research on fan communities, live music and electronic music distribution.

Syracuse University | Syracuse, NY, 1998 — 2002
B.S., Television, Radio and Film and Political Science
Coursework in audio production, broadcast production, video editing, American Congress, urban geography, political economy and popular culture.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

University of Denver (2020-Present) – Daniels College of Business, Entrepreneurship Program

EVM 3437 Design For The Digital Economy Essential to a successful business venture is the ability to design and create a brand that resonates with customers. In this course, students will learn the brand design process, review the elements of both successful and unsuccessful brand campaigns, and will critique brand concepts to improve their aesthetic sensibilities. This course will help students learn to use the latest digital technologies to create a brand style guide, and for their final project, students will use the tools to develop a style guide for a new or existing business.

EVM 3417 Branding and Messaging Branding is an essential element for any startup. Your brand is created by you and grows as your business grows. It’s more than a logo, colors, and fonts contained in a style guide. It’s the experience that you create for your customers. It’s something your business should aspire to. Something memorable. And as you work though this course, you will get an understanding of what it takes to build the brand for your business

University of Denver (2013-Present) – Media, Film and Journalism Studies (MFJS)
MFJS 2140 – Newswriting & Reporting
Fundamentals of newswriting and reporting for print and broadcast journalism. Required of all Journalism Studies students.
MFJS 2240 – Online & Visual Journalism
An introduction to web-based, print, video and audio news in a rolling deadline format. It also includes a project-based cross-cultural component to highlight internationalization of the news industries and to build upon the internationalization focus of the University. Required of all Journalism Studies students.
MFJS 3201 – Publication & Graphic Design
This course explores publication design and techniques for creating effective layouts. We employ the scope of the Adobe Creative Suite, primarily InDesign, to incorporate and manipulate text, photographs and illustrations. Visual elective for all MFJS students.
MFJS 3601 – Networked Journalism
This course traces the shift that has taken place over the past 15 years from mass-mediated journalism to networked journalism, with emphasis on experiments in citizen and participatory news and on the changing relationship between journalists and their publics. It explores emergent communication technologies and practices and how they are changing the news media landscape. Elective for all MFJS students.
MFJS 3420 – Strategic Communication Seminar
This is the required capstone course in the strategic communication sequence. In this course, students examine special topics in strategic communication and apply what they have learned to group projects in which they take on a client and work together as a team on a strategic communication campaign.
MFJS 3501 – Web Design and Content Development
This course covers the building and management of web pages. The course also covers creating sites using open source content management systems. Applicants must be comfortable integrating Web 2.0 content into sites. Elective for all MFJS students.
MFJS 3900/4912 – Video History of World Pro Skiing
Description: In this course we will be editing and producing a series of documentary video vignettes about the history of World Pro Skiing, which will become part of an exhibit at the Colorado Ski & Snowboard Museum in Vail. Special topic elective for all DU students.
MFJS 3900/4912 – Building Media Startups
This course introduces students to fundamental entrepreneurial principles. Individuals and teams will research, develop, pitch, and potentially launch prototype business ventures. Student teams submit a short pitch of their business idea for a media or communications innovation. Special topic elective for all DU students.
MFJS 3900/4912 – Cannabis Journalism
This course examines media coverage regarding the legalization of medical and recreational marijuana in Colorado and states across the country. Students have the opportunity to produce a multimedia journalism story on a relevant topic of their choice. Special topic elective for all DU students.
MFJS 3900/4912 – Data Journalism
The goals of this course are for students to: understand the basics of data and data journalism; master the use of data in journalistic storytelling (finding, cleaning, designing, etc); master spreadsheets and basic data visualization for storytelling; use public records laws and understand your rights as a citizen and a journalist; and gain exposure to advanced tools of data journalism, like GIS and social network analysis, as well as advanced methods of gathering data.
MFJS 3900/4912 – Star Wars and the Power of Franchise
In this class, we analyze the historical foundations George Lucas’ filmmaking, and survey the “Lucas Canon”: THX 1138, American Graffiti, and the original Star Wars film. We also assess the impact of the entire Star Wars universe in American popular culture, including the acquisition of LucasFilm by Disney and how that corporate turn has changed the franchise.

Faculty Advisor to the DU Clarion (2013-present)
I supervise the print and digital editions of the weekly campus newspaper with the editorial and business staff. I also manage the reports and budget with sales staff and university comptroller.

Front Range Community College, Boulder County Campus (Fall 2017-Fall 2018)
JOU 105 – Introduction to Mass Media
Places the mass media in a cultural and historical perspective, and considers the validity, integrity and influence of the media in a democracy.

University of Colorado Boulder

JOURN 1002 Critical Thinking and Writing — Spring 2004

Freshman level newswriting and reporting course. Required for the major.

JOURN 4624/5624 NewsTeam: Broadcast Journalism Capstone — 2004-2005

Senior level production experience with a weekly live news cast. At the time, required for both undergraduate and graduate broadcast news degree.

UNIVERSITY SERVICE
Technology Committee (2014-present)
I work with the department chair and technology director to implement new media technologies into the Journalism Studies curriculum and into the classroom labs.
Journalism Studies Curriculum Committee (2015-present)
I work with the department chair and colleagues in the major to implement and design curriculum to keep our program current with trends in the media business and larger digitally oriented workforce.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Brand Journalist, Marketing Team, StickerGiant | January 2014 — Present | Longmont, CO
- Work within the Marketing Team as part of the company’s newly founded “Growth and Product Department” to assess the editorial and advertising objectives of the StickerGiant brand as part of a multi-million dollar ad budget across all channels (AdWords, Facebook, Bing, etc.). Responsible for blog, podcast, special projects, voiceovers, creative development and assisting in administration of the StickerGiant website. Help achieved significant growth and measurable results with regards to conversions and site traffic, as the business has grown 30% YOY from 2017-2021. StickerGiant runs two sophisticated systems to operate the business: Open Book Finance from the book The Great Game of Business and the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) from the book Traction to achieve high-growth and high-efficiency in the production of custom sticker and labels.
Field guide + Copywriter, Nature Valley Trail View | August 2011 – August 2013
- Led a production team and an ad agency partner McCann-Erickson on location in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Worked as a copywriter and video talent for NatureValleyTrailView.com. Notable: This project won a Cannes Lion for creativity and was featured on Google’s “Think With Google” Creative Sandbox.
Map Editor, Backpacker and Bicycling | May 2010 – March 2013 | Boulder, CO
- Managed workflows, staff and revenue for navigation products in-print, online and mobile. Supervised nationwide, user-generated GPS content projects. Also contributed to other titles in the Active Interest Media family of brands.
Cartographer, Nokia/Navteq | Sept. 2007 – May 2010 | Washington, DC
- Managed team of five to produce map services for key clients, including the NFL, Honda, and major convention centers and visitors bureaus. Served as technical contact for sales and client teams, scheduling production work and milestones.
Assistant Map Editor, Backpacker magazine | June 2005 – Sept. 2007 | Boulder, CO
- Help launched nationwide, user-generated GPS content project to collect digital data and topographic maps for hiking trails. Wrote, edited and produced print and digital content, including downloadable GPS data for consumer use.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Leadership St. Vrain District Committee – 2022-2023 cohort for Saint Vrain Valley Schools
Rocky Mountain PBS – Community Advisory Board, FY2017-Present
Online News Association – Mentor, Student Innovation Lab – 2016-2017
TEDx Boulder – Organizing Team, 2016-2019

PUBLIC SPEAKING

Matranga, A. (2022, September). Speaker, Fort Collins Startup Week. Delivering talk titled “Telling Stories to Drive Sales,” Colorado State University, Fort Collins.

Matranga, A. (2022, July). Speaker, Longmont Startup Week. Delivered talk titled “Telling Stories to Drive Sales,” online presentation.

Matranga, A. (2019, December). Speaker, Ignite Boulder 40. Delivered talk titled “Lessons From A Galaxy Far, Far Away: #StudyingStarWars” Boulder Theater, Boulder, Colorado.

Matranga, A. (2018, October). Conducted Q&A with Susan Witkin of KOA Radio for discussion titled “The Fake News or Alternative Facts Phenomenon.” Presented to the Lifelong Jewish Learning program at Temple Sinai, Denver, Colorado.

Matranga, A. (2018, March). Panelist, Estes Park Library. Sat on panel for conversation titled “Voices from the Newsroom: Experts Discuss Today’s News Environment.” Estes Park High School, Estes Park, Colorado.

Matranga, A. (2017, December). Speaker, Ignite Boulder 34. Delivered talk titled “Welcome to Cannabis as America’s New Normal.” Boulder Theater, Boulder, Colorado.

Matranga, A. (2017, October). Speaker, National Panhellenic Conference: Communicators session. Discussed “America’s New Normal: How legal cannabis is changing media and culture in the USA.” Presented at organization’s annual conference, Denver International Airport Westin Hotel.

Matranga, A. (2016, February). Panel participant, Teach-a-Thon on the “Cannabis Journalism: Reporting on America’s New Normal.” Presented at the Journalism Interactive Conference, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

Matranga, A. (2015, April). Panel participant, Teach-a-Thon on the “The Open Book Classroom: How to create transparency and foster collaboration for individual and group success.” Presented at the Journalism Interactive Conference, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.

Matranga, A. (2014, April). Panel participant, Teach-a-Thon on “Google Plus For Engagement Outside the Classroom.” Presented at the Journalism Interactive Conference, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland.

Matranga, A. (2013, March). Guest Lecture CU dLab, “Maps for Storytelling.” Presented at the University of Colorado – Boulder Digital Lab lecture series. Boulder, Colorado.

MEDIA APPEARANCES

“There are signs that marijuana coverage, like the cannabis scene itself, is evolving. If cannabis continues to be a news draw, it could lead to ever-more skillful and in-depth journalism on the subject. It’s a promising sign that journalism professors such as Matranga are teaching classes on marijuana journalism.” -Joel Warner, International Business Times. Marijuana Has Become A Media Darling, But Are Journalists Too Soft On Pot

Cannabis Journalism course featured in Westword story about Cannabis-Focused Schools and Courses in Colorado. October 12, 2018.
Dat-Mocracy Tho! A Comedy Show? – Denver Open Media, June 2018
The Washington Post, The finer points of pot from Denver’s cannabis critic, May 2015
The Denver Post Cannabist Show, March 2016
International Business Times quoted in article Marijuana Has Become A Media Darling, But Are Journalists Too Soft On Pot
The Denver Post Cannabist Show: He teaches cannabis journalism; She owns an edibles biz
The Extract, Chicago Sun Times Higher education: Soon you can study marijuana journalism at the University of Denver
TheCannabist.co article: Cannabis Journalism: It’s a class you can now take at University of Denver
CNN Espanol live interview
Featured on CBS4 Denver in Longmont Tech Consultant Has Tips Following Massive Internet Hacking story as a technology consultant.
Featured on CBS4 Denver in New App Tracks Neighborhood Crime story as a technology expert.