SJSU Adobe Digital Literacy Day 2025

Presenter Bios and Resources

Ryan Skinnell San Jose State University

I’m Dr. Ryan Skinnell, an Associate Professor of Rhetoric and Writing at San José State University. I earned my PhD in Rhetoric, Composition, and Linguistics at Arizona State University in 2011, and I’ve taught rhetoric and writing for nearly two decades at four universities.

I am an expert in political rhetoric and popular discourse, which means I study how people argue about politics in public. I’ve published six books and more than 100 essays, articles, and reviews about rhetoric, politics, and higher education. My writing has appeared in a variety of national and international outlets, including The Washington Post, Salon, and Newsweek. I also regularly appear in local and national media to discuss political rhetoric in the news.

Tina Korani San Jose State University

Tina Korani is an assistant professor of media design at San José State University, co-founder and faculty advisor of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication’s Immersive Storytelling Lab, and Adobe Education Leader.

She conducts research in the areas of educational technology, digital and creative literacies, human-computer interaction, and inclusive design. In her creative practice, she explores innovative uses of technologies to foster learning and her goal is to examine how these innovations can improve, augment, and support the learning experience.

Prior to her position at SJSU, she served as a teaching associate at Louisiana State University and held various user experience design and graphic design positions in the U.S. and Iran.

She earned her terminal degree (M.F.A.) from Louisiana State University and her B.A. in Visual Communication from Art University of Tehran. She is the recipient of multiple awards from the American Advertising Federation, including a National ADDY Award, and a Gold District 7 ADDY Award in 2017.

As a speaker and educator, she has presented her work at numerous academic and professional conferences. 

John Delacruz San Jose State University

Director and Associate Professor John Delacruz is responsible for the Creative Track of San José State’s Advertising program and developing partnerships between industry and education. He also develops collaborative projects for students nationally and internationally. His research interests focus around teaching, learning and creativity, principally how experiential learning spaces impact on the creative disciplines, as well as mentorship/peer learning in creative teams.

John is an Adobe Education Leader and has, at times, taught User Experience Design, among other courses, at Miami Ad School in San Francisco. As a member of the One Club he judges the student award show competition, The Young Ones. He is on the board of the Silicon Valley chapter of the American Advertising federation as well as being the Faculty Advisor for the on-campus Ad Club. Innovative and creative forms of engagement inspire John’s classes. Creative and strategic thinking, ideas generation and pushing the boundaries of traditional communications form the backbone of his curricula where students solve real world problems in ways that enhance their employability in an ever competitive advertising world. Integrated solutions, advertising for good, user experience and engagement are key areas of interest that drive the tasks he sets his students.

A passionate advocate of award shows, John’s students consistently win at the ADDYs as well as YCN and D&AD. A passionate Stand Up Paddleboarder and photographer, John is an involved ocean steward and environmental advocate helping grass roots non profit organizations promote their ideas through crafted communications campaigns.

Raymond Lam San Jose State University

Raymond Lam is an Adobe Trainer & Instructional Designer at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library at San Jose State University.

Jessica Gomula-Kruzic California State University, Stanislaus

Jessica Gomula-Kruzic is Co-Director of Creative Media at California State University, Stanislaus.

My visual arts research creates collaborative intermedia artwork in diverse public spaces, which addresses socially conscious subject matter. Through video and animation projects, live performances, and responsive systems, my projects creatively respond to the physical and social character of an environment in an effort to bring diverse people together to inspire, and be inspired.
My work revolves around the Central Valley, with recent work focusing upon Modesto, California. While not a native to Modesto, it is where I have been the longest. Growing roots in this community has had a profound impact on my artwork, and my sense of personal expression and art activism.

Shannon Stevens California State University, Stanislaus

Shannon Stevens is Co-Director of Creative Media at California State University, Stanislaus.

SJSU Adobe Digital Café

The SJSU Adobe Digital Café is a place for students, staff, and faculty of San José State University to access resources related to Adobe Creative Cloud.

HonorsX

HonorsX is an interdisciplinary program sponsored by Adobe. HonorsX values different backgrounds and experiences and centers the vision and voice of students in their own learning journey. The SJSU Honors X program.

HonorsX FAQs

FAQs, details and more resources about the HonorsX program at SJSU.