Tímea Varga B.A., M.S., M.B.A., Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Communication and Media

Timea Varga

Professional profile

Dr. Tímea Varga, associate professor, teaches a variety of courses in the College of Communication and Design at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Varga is a Hungarian native, proficient in six languages with both research, teaching, and field experiences in the fields of communication, international development and relations.

Besides teaching, she serves as the faculty advisor for the university’s award-winning student-run publication, iPulse, and is a member of Lynn's Impact team, assisting in the creation and assessment of co-educational experiences and programs with positive impact both locally and globally. She has previously served as the assistant director of Project Civitas, a university initiative that promotes civility in politics and public life through education. As faculty innovation and social impact lead, she co-led Lynn's Social Impact Taskforce, and co-coordinated, co-managed and facilitated the institutionalization of social impact education at the university. Varga also served as a research mentor, adviser for the Watson Institute at Lynn, training the next generation of innovators, leaders and social entrepreneurs. Varga has also choreographed the university's annual variety show, Celebration of the Arts since its inception.

Among her professional activities, Varga is a member of several organizations including the National Communication and American Political Science Associations. She regularly presents at regional and national conferences, lectures in the community and leads faculty development sessions that address a variety of topics in higher education. Formerly, Varga was the editorial assistant of Women' Studies in Communication, the prestigious scholarly publication of the Organization for Research on Women (ORWAC) and served as the president of the Florida Communication Association. Prior to joining the Lynn family, Varga briefly worked with the Hungarian Ministry of Defence and the American International School of Budapest.

Education

  • B.A., Lynn University
  • M.S., Lynn University
  • M.B.A., Lynn University
  • Ph.D., University of Southern Mississippi

Teaching philosophy

Varga believes that learning is an interactive process that takes place both inside and outside of the classroom. She capitalizes on Lynn's multicultural environment, her international background and her intercultural skills to expose students to global issues, attitudes and trends that affect, and are likely to transform their areas of study and prospective careers. Varga is committed to and invested in students' all-around well-being, and she designs her classes and assignments to foster adaptation, creativity, innovation, resilience and social impact as essential components of personal and professional growth and success in traditional and digital settings alike.

Teaching specialties

  • • Advanced multimedia journalism
  • • Applied media
  • • Civic engagement and social justice
  • • French language and culture
  • • International media
  • • Principles of strategic communication
  • • Persuasion and propaganda
  • • Societies and institutions
  • • Strategic campaign practicum

Areas of scholarship

Communication
International development
Comparative politics
International relations
Identity politics

Awards and honors

  • Service to Lynn and Outside Community award (highlights influence that goes beyond the classroom and social impact on a global scale), 2021
  • Finalist for the Ciivys (with Project Civitas: National award to highlight outstanding efforts of civic collaboration making impacts in local, national and youth communities), 2018
  • President's Award, Florida Communication Association, 2017
  • Cordes Fellowship, Opportunity Collaboration USA, 2018
  • Student Commencement speaker (graduate and evening undergraduate commencement), Lynn University, 2014
  • Covington Who's Who in North American Education, 2012
  • Dean's Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Education (College of International Communication), Lynn University, 2010
  • Who is Who Among Students in American Universities, 2010
  • Deans Scholarship, Lynn University, 2006–2010
  • Honors Scholarship, Lynn University, 2006–2010
  • Excalibur Scholarship, Lynn University, 2006–2010

Athletic achievements

  • IDSF World Latin Ballroom Formation Dance Championships (4th place), Germany, 2002; (5th place), Germany, 2001
  • IDSF European Latin Ballroom Formation Dance Championships (4th place), Netherlands, 2002; (Silver medal), Hungary, 2001
  • National Latin and Standard Ballroom Formation Dance Championships (Gold medalist), Hungary, 1998-2002