Name: Rebecca Coates Nee, Ed.D.   
Department: School of Journalism & Media Studies
Position: Lecturer (Present), Assistant Professor (starting August, 2011)

1. What inspired you to do this kind of work? I was a television news reporter and anchor for more than a dozen years and also worked in public relations before becoming an instructor. Journalists are teachers by nature. We just have a bigger classroom and a larger, but often faceless audience. As a teacher, I enjoy being able to interact regularly with a smaller group of people and reflecting on all the changes occurring in the media industry instead of being in the middle of the firestorm.


2. What is the best piece of advice you ever received? My mom always used to quote Henry David Thoreau: Go confidently in the direction of your dreams … live the life you imagine and you will meet with a success unexpected in common hours (paraphrased).


3. What is your favorite thing about your job? I love interacting with the students. They keep me young and we learn from each other. I also enjoy being able to research the industry without having to worry about meeting a daily deadline. We still have deadlines, but they are very different from news media deadlines.


4. What about your field or position do you think would surprise people the most? The amount of time we spend working when we are not physically in the classroom – from putting the syllabus together, writing lectures, grading, answering tons of student emails, to researching and writing papers for publications and conferences.


5. What is the most interesting or surprising thing about you (like a hidden talent, where you’re from or a special hobby)? I have run the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. and the first Rock n Roll Marathon in San Diego. I’ve also interviewed Oprah Winfrey. Not simultaneously – although Oprah did give me advice for the Marine Corps Marathon, which she had previously run: “Don’t stop to go to the bathroom.” She was right.


6. If you could only rescue one thing from your burning office, what would it be? Assuming all pets and children are out, my file with important documents and family photos, iPhone & iPad. Hmmm…those are more than one thing. So since the file is fireproof, I don’t have to take that. And since most of my iPad apps and info are backed up on Apple’s cloud, I don’t really need that. So, I’ll go with the iPhone – although I could use a newer version.


7. What music do you play most often in your office or car? If I am alone, I’m listening to KPBS. If my 10 year old daughter is in the car, we’re listening to a Top 40 station or a CD we’ve burned from her iPod. She likes Adam Lambert and Lady Gaga.
   
   Bouns Question:  What is your favorite sports team or who is your favorite individual athlete? Well, I have to say the Aztecs, of course, and D.J. Gay! They gave us a great season and helped build the SDSU community spirit.

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