Spring Break, March 13-17: Classes Canceled, Offices Closed:
The university is closed for spring break March 13-17. Normal operations resume March 20.
Megan Cox
Assistant Professor
About
Megan Cox has lived in Edmond, Oklahoma, for the past eight years. Oklahoma is the seventh state she’s called home, but she’s proud to now be an “Okie.”
Megan earned her B.A. in mass communication from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (2002) and her M.A. in mass communication and journalism from the University of Oklahoma (2007). She has worked in many media-related jobs, including several years in Washington, D.C. as a public affairs specialist for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics. While there, she joined an international task force to report on best practices for communicating statistics to the media and the public. Locally, she has written articles for the Edmond Sun and the Daily Oklahoman. Megan is currently working on a Ph.D. at the University of Oklahoma’s Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication. Her research interests lie in exploring new digital and social media platforms, especially those gaining global popularity, in order to better reach and engage specific populations.
Megan has been married to her college sweetheart for 17 years and they have two children. She enjoys training for long-distance races and traveling.
Classes Taught
MCOM 1113 - Fundamentals of Speech
MCOM 1173 - Strategic Comm Writing
MCOM 3653 - Digital & Social Communication
Education and Certifications
University of Oklahoma—Norman, Oklahoma
M.A. Journalism and Mass Communication, May 2007, Summa Cum Laude
Kappa Tau Alpha Top Scholar Award
Emphasis—Health journalism and communication; professional writing and editing
Thesis: Constructing a New Ethical Framework for Health Reporting
Advisors: David Craig, Ph.D., and Peter Gade, Ph.D.
University of Colorado—Colorado Springs, CO
B.A. Mass Communication, May 2002, Summa Cum Laude with Honors of Highest Distinction
2002 Outstanding Communication Undergraduate and Outstanding Social Science Undergraduate
Emphasis—Media management, written communication, and recording arts
Advisor: David Nelson, M.F.A.
Experience
Freelance Journalist/Editor/Blogger (April 2012 to present)—Currently write breaking news and health quizzes for Coffey Communications, a company that provides health news stories to hospital and health insurance networks nationwide. Also write as the “Mom Around Town” columnist for the Edmond Sun.
Staff Editor/Writer/Social Media Specialist (January 2014 to August 2017)—Today’s Veterinary Practice & Today’s Veterinary Technician. Conducted interviews, wrote articles, edited technical articles, and managed web content and social media for the North American Veterinary Conference’s (NAVC) peer-reviewed journals. Also worked as the onsite conference newspaper reporter for the NAVC’s 2016 & 2017 annual conference in Orlando, Florida.
Public Affairs Specialist/Writer-Editor (May 2007–September 2010)—National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, MD. Wrote press releases and speeches, handled press conferences/interviews, and conducted fundraising campaigns. Also wrote and presented a paper about media policies at the U.N. Economic Commission for Europe in Warsaw, Poland (2009) and worked with other international presenters on a manual titled Making Data Meaningful.
Health and Metro Reporter (2005–2007)—Moore American and Norman Transcript newspapers, Oklahoma City metropolitan area; also reported for University of Oklahoma newspaper, Oklahoma Daily.
Contributing Editor (graduate internship May 2006–August 2006)—American Indian Horizons Magazine, Oklahoma City Indian Clinic.
Graduate Assistant and Discussion Lab Instructor (2005–2006)—University of Oklahoma Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication. Assistant teacher for “History of Journalism,” “Writing for the Media,” and “Intro to Mass Communication” courses.
Online Media Producer & Script Writer (2002–2005)—Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage New England Corporate Office, Waltham, Massachusetts.
General Assignment Reporter and Business/Marketing Manager (2000–2002)—The Scribe, a publication of the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
Research, Published Work, and Scholarly Activities
Cox, M.M. (2018, October). The Independent Writer: Finding Freelance Gigs, Literary Agents, and a Steady Income. Oral presentation at the University of Central Oklahoma, Mass Communication Week.
Cox, M.M. & Tardiff, A. (2017, September). Prep for Grad School. Oral presentation at the University of Central Oklahoma, Mass Communication Week.
Cox, M. M. (2014, June). Writing for Young Adults. Oral presentation at Delta Kappa Gamma Society International Leadership Conference in Oklahoma City, OK.
Cox, M. M. (2009, May). NCHS & the OMB Directive. Oral presentation at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe’s conference on communicating statistics in Warsaw, Poland.
Cox, M. M. (2007, August). Communitarian Theory and Health Journalism: The Feeling is Mutuality. Poster presentation at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication National Convention in Washington, DC.
Cox, M. M. (2006, October). Hippocrates, Democracy, and the Journalist: A New Ethical Formula for Health Reporting. Conference presentation at the Southwest Education Council for Journalism and Mass Communication Symposium in Baton Rouge, LA.
Cox, M. M. (2005, January). Coldwell Banker Cares. Video Presentation at Coldwell Banker New England Metro Awards Ceremony in Boston, MA.
Honors and Awards
Creative Women of Oklahoma Award for Young Adult Book – Accidental Mobster — June 2014
Oklahoma Writer’s Federation: First Place Award in Young Adult Fiction— Fierce — May 2013
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Leadership Award — March 2010
Kappa Tau Alpha Top Scholar Award — May 2007
Oklahoma Scholar and Leadership Education Program selectee and participant — January 2007
Robberson Conference Presentation Travel Grant — October 2006
Chester H. Westfall Scholarship — 2005–2006 and 2006–2007
National Association of Television Arts and Sciences Emmy scholarship winner for student public service announcement storyboard — October 2001
University of Colorado academic scholarship — 2001–2002
United States Figure Skating Association academic scholarship—1998–1999
Junior Ladies National Collegiate Figure Skating Champion—August 1999
The views expressed by UCO faculty and staff on their personal websites and social media pages do not necessarily reflect the positions of the University of Central Oklahoma. UCO faculty and staff are advised to follow the university’s social media guidelines and are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with policies outlined in UCO’s Employee Handbook and/or Faculty Handbook.