Lanna Monday Lumpkins

Greetings and salutations!

My name is Lanna Monday Lumpkins and I am a strategic communications coordinator for The University of Virginia's College at Wise. I am in my third year at the institution (eighth year in higher ed) and still learning something new every day. The educational field has a way of making that happen.

As with most of us in digital media, we maintain a plethora of hats. My primary responsibilities include graphic layout and design, video production, web content management, interactive communication, social media management and an array of other related digital media endeavors.

Additionally, I serve as Communications adjunct faculty where I find that I learn as much from students about trends in media as I hope they are learning from me. I never cease to be amazed at how technologically savvy students are and believe that it is imperative for institutions and businesses alike to keep our finger on the pulse of the digital natives.

As a former producer and director for network and local television, I am content living in the throes of this media revolution of sorts. Convergence is exciting and yet challenging as it affects the way we are both forced and desire to communicate.

My largest frustration stems from the inability to manufacture more time or dimensions to research and understand the vast quantity and selection of media platforms and tools being developed. We are becoming a global community wrought with cultural and religious differences and ideology which open doors and slams them at the same time.

If we all could dedicate some small fraction of time to the growing number of resources available; creating, innovating, understanding and learning to use these tools more effectively for the greater good, what a wonderful world it could be... at the click of a button or two.