By Ava Geaniotis

The rise of new technologies, including social media, has altered the way that people receive information and communicate. It’s become more essential than ever that educational institutions are adapting to this trend, and Adelphi’s communications department is becoming a part of this movement.

Among multiple new communications courses set to begin next semester on emerging media, Professor Suzanne Valenza, an adjunct professor in the communications department currently teaching Web Journalism and serving as the Student Media Advisor for The Delphian, is set to teach Social Media Lab (COM-367-007).

In this course, students will gain hands-on experience making content for different Adelphi departments, producing posts, videos and graphics. Students will also learn about account management, content strategy, digital marketing and audience engagement. 

“Students will gain hands-on experience working with real clients, while the university benefits from increased visibility,” said Communications Department Chair Mark Grabowski. “Everyone comes out ahead.”

Valenza hopes that students will appreciate that the course is less lecture-based and more like an internship. “I want students to get the opportunity to meet with clients, determine their needs and then produce content for the client’s desired social media platforms that exceed the intended goals,” she said. 

Valenza intends that this class will allow students to develop meaningful professional connections and produce campaigns that they can include in their professional portfolios. She said that she believes in education that encourages individual growth while developing a sense of community. 

Chair Grabowski said that Valenza has “extensive experience supervising student media and has won awards for that work.”

As a result, she knows how to manage a class where students create real content for real clients. Grabowski added, “Professor Valenza is the ideal person to run [Social Media Lab].”

Prospective students are looking forward to a class that allows them to develop this real experience. One enrolled student, sophomore communications major Christabel Tedianto, said, “I’m just hoping to get more experience with video editing–more short-form content, more experience running social media–what to post, learning algorithms more.” 

She added, “And it’s always a nice thing to put on my resume.”

Looking forward to the new class next semester, Valenza said, “Adelphi students are such a pleasure–they are fun, caring, hard-working and so interesting. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished so far, and look forward to what more we can do next year when being new isn’t such a major constraint.”

She added, “I encourage interested students to register for the class.” 

There are still seats available in this course in the Fall 2026 semester registration page on CLASS.