Megan Pope was the first Speech faculty member at Texas A&M – San Antonio, joining the Communication faculty in Fall 2016. As Texas native, Megan Pope is happy to be back in her hometown of San Antonio after having previously taught in beautiful San Luis Obispo, CA for four years at California Polytechnic State University.

Megan earned a Bachelor and Master of Arts from Texas State University in Communication Studies, specializing in organizational communication, as well as earning graduate certificates in Corporate Communication & Training and Mediation. Upon graduation in 2008, she worked in Austin as a researcher for Keller Williams. Realizing her heart was not in Real Estate, she moved to San Antonio, and into the classroom, teaching for the Alamo Colleges. Her joy in teaching is sharing with students her love of language and storytelling and encourages her students to be vulnerable with their audience. An expert in public speaking, she enjoys helping students craft their message. Arriving at A&M is a natural fit, given her passion for working with first-generation students. Megan was honored to receive the 2021 Dr. Maria Hernandez Ferrier Award, which is given to a faculty/staff member who goes out of her way for her students and makes sure that students are her number one priority, and is part of the Jag Women Rock! Award series.

During her time teaching, Megan has participated in many facets of higher education – from serving on committees, grant writing, shared governance, assessment, faculty development, online instruction, to coaching policy debate. In 2015, she researched and co-wrote portions of a winning $1.1M TRIO SSS 2015 GRANT proposal for Allan Hancock College. In addition to her teaching, she frequently consults with organizations as an e-learning & communication training expert, or as an elite public speaking coach and executive speechwriter. A highlight of her career was winning the 2019 Cicero Speechwriting Award for writing Dr. Debra Warners TEDx Talk: “#MenToo: Breaking the Silence of Male Trauma Survivors" which has over 71K views online. Megan is involved in the TEDx Talk scene, serving as a speaker coach and speech writer with TEDx Palo Alto College and a curator with TEDx San Antonio for several years. Finally, she served as a 2022 SXSW Edu Advisory Board member.

Megan is married to the love of her life Aaron and has three step-children. She enjoys travellig to national parks, practicing yin yoga, and meditating. 

Recent Publications: 

Faculty Self-Care in the Age of Covid. (2021). Spectra Magazine, a publication of the National Communication Association

6 Ways to Lead An Engaging and Effective Webinar. (2021). Together Digital Blog

Digital Storytelling Group Project. (2018). National Communication Association

Recent Facilitations: 

Moderated TEDx San Antonio’s: “Red Dot Café: The Impact of COVID-19 in Higher Education"

Moderated TEDx San Antonio’s: "Red Dot Café: The Impact of COVID-19 on K-12 Schools"