Caroline E. Sawyer, PhD

I am an award-winning producer, associate professor, and director of the Sand Shark Center for Innovative Media at the University of South Carolina Beaufort. My work bridges scholarship, media production, and community engagement, with a strong focus on experiential learning that empowers students to apply theory in real-world settings.

I earned my Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Memphis, an M.A. from Austin Peay State University, and a B.B.A. from Baylor University. Before entering academia, I worked as a corporate communication consultant, advising public and private organizations on media production, website design, social media strategy, and public and investor relations. I have also taught at several universities in Tennessee and California, bringing both professional and academic expertise into the classroom.

At USCB, I design courses that blend media theory with applied projects, allowing students to build marketable skills and robust portfolios. A signature opportunity is Book By The River, the Emmy-nominated public media show I produce in partnership with SCETV. Nationally distributed by American Public Television, the show provides students with hands-on roles as camera operators, production assistants, associate producers, and digital media producers.

As director of the Sand Shark Center for Innovative Media, I oversee the Innovative Media Lab, student media productions, and select athletic livestreams, while also leading collaborative community media initiatives. My goal—in the classroom and beyond—is to create meaningful, real-world learning experiences that prepare students to thrive in a rapidly changing media landscape.