Emily Acosta Lewis

Office

Biography

Dr. Emily Acosta Lewis is a Professor of Communication and Media Studies at Sonoma State University and a California State University Chancellor’s Office Faculty Fellow whose work focuses on artificial intelligence in higher education, student success, experiential learning, faculty development, and educational innovation. She earned her Ph.D. in Communication Arts and M.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and her B.A. in Communication with an emphasis in public relations from San Diego State University.

Emily has become an active leader in helping faculty, students, and organizations navigate the rapidly changing role of artificial intelligence in education and the workplace. Her work emphasizes intentional, ethical, equitable, and human-centered uses of AI, with particular attention to AI literacy, communication, course redesign, career readiness, and helping people develop practical strategies for collaborating effectively with emerging technologies. She has received funding from the California State University to support AI-related initiatives and has designed and facilitated faculty development experiences focused on integrating AI into teaching and learning.

Emily has been invited to speak at a variety of AI conferences, summits, workshops, and professional events, including the Ai4 Conference, the Artificial Intelligence Summit in Scottsdale, the International e-Learning and Innovative Pedagogies Conference, CSU AI events, and faculty development programs across higher education. She has presented on topics ranging from AI for beginners and everyday applications of artificial intelligence to ethical AI integration, AI-supported course redesign, career preparation, and the importance of human communication in producing meaningful AI outcomes. She also serves as Co-Director of the Applied AI Research Conference, a collaboration involving the California State University Chancellor’s Office and Ai4, and has helped lead faculty learning communities exploring AI, critical thinking, and course redesign.

Throughout her career, Emily has maintained a student-centered approach to teaching and leadership. Her teaching and scholarship have emphasized high-impact educational practices including service-learning, first-year experiences, learning communities, collaborative projects, undergraduate research, ePortfolios, and other forms of experiential education. She serves as the faculty advisor for Primitivo, Sonoma State’s student-run public relations firm, where students gain hands-on experience working with campus and community clients. Her scholarship has examined service-learning, media effects, communication, student engagement, and innovative teaching practices.

As a first-generation college graduate, Emily is particularly committed to creating educational environments in which students understand how to navigate college, build confidence, develop professional skills, and prepare for life after graduation. Her work in student success and equity has included leadership with the CSU Student Success Network Middle Leadership Academy, faculty and institutional leadership at Sonoma State, and the development of programs designed to help students and educators translate learning into meaningful real-world opportunities.

Emily is also passionate about leadership development and has extensive experience in shared governance, organizational leadership, and faculty development. She previously served as Chair of the Sonoma State University Academic Senate and has held numerous university and CSU systemwide leadership roles. Across these roles, she is especially interested in how thoughtful communication, inclusive leadership, emerging technology, and educational innovation can help institutions better serve students.

Outside of work, Emily spends much of her time with her three kids, ages 7, 9, and 11, exploring North Bay beaches, parks, museums, and whatever adventure they can find next. She enjoys sports in nearly any form, watching questionable television shows, matcha, yoga, hiking, weightlifting, and traveling.