Current Position and Past Experience
Jennifer Potter is currently the Associate Director of the Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation at the University System of Maryland (USM), where she focuses her work in three priority areas: Generative AI Pedagogy, Digital Accessibility, and Alternative Credentials. She joined USM after more than 16 years at Towson University where she most recently served as Chair and Professor in the Department of Communication Studies and as the Faculty Mentoring Fellow in the Faculty Academic Center of Excellence at Towson (FACET). Throughout her career, Potter has led numerous initiatives aimed at enhancing student engagement through high-impact educational practices. Among her key contributions, she spearheaded the development of a capstone course, created a Residential Learning Community (RLC) for students passionate about advocacy, established a department-wide undergraduate research program, and launched a Public Communication Center that used a peer mentoring model to support public speaking across campus. She was also instrumental in expanding Study Abroad opportunities and supported efforts to develop Comprehensive Learner Records and micro-credentialing pathways for students. In 2023, Jennifer co-led a successful initiative as part of the M.O.S.T. Institutional OER Grant Program, creating an entirely OER-based Public Speaking curriculum.
Education, Honors and Achievements
Potter received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication, Political Science and Sociology from Cornell College, her MA in Communication Studies from the University of Northern Iowa and her PhD in Communication and Culture from Howard University. In recognition of her commitment to mentorship, Potter received the University System of Maryland Board of Regents Faculty Award for Mentorship in 2024, honoring her impact on both students and faculty throughout her career. This fall, Potter was selected to participate in the Rebus Foundation Luminary Fellowship Program for Education Leaders beginning in January 2026.
Personal Details and Community Involvement
A strong advocate for inclusive education and social justice, Potter has facilitated the Dialogue@TU program, served as a trained Inside-Out Prison Exchange instructor, and earned certification as a mediator through the Social Justice Mediation Institute. Outside of work, Potter is an avid hiker, reader, and podcast listener and spends most of her free time with her three kids and partner.
