July 1, 2026

Associate Professor Jami Ramberan, Chair
Department of Media, Journalism and Film
Cathy Hughes School of Communications
Howard University

Dear Chair Ramberan,

"Those who can, do; those who can't, teach."

When I accepted a tenure-track appointment at Howard University in 2020, I encountered more than a few industry colleagues who believed this sentiment. Many viewed academia as a departure from professional practice rather than an extension of it. Yet the very careers they celebrated had been shaped by mentors, educators, technical training programs, and professional networks that opened doors and expanded opportunity.

My own experience in the music and media industries revealed a persistent challenge: access to technical training, professional networks, and career advancement opportunities often flowed toward homogenous groups, leaving talented storytellers outside established circles with fewer pathways to success. I believed that Howard University offered an extraordinary opportunity to redirect that flow.

Following in the footsteps of my great-grandfather, jazz pianist and educator John Malachi, I joined Howard University with a commitment to transforming professional opportunity into institutional opportunity. My goal has been to build pathways through which students could access emerging technologies, meaningful industry relationships, and the technical and creative confidence necessary to shape the future of media.

Six years later, I respectfully submit this dossier for consideration for promotion to the rank of Associate Professor with tenure. The accompanying materials document a record of teaching, scholarship, creative activity, service, and institutional leadership that reflects Howard University's mission of excellence in truth and service. Together, they demonstrate a sustained commitment to expanding educational opportunity, advancing immersive media scholarship, strengthening institutional capacity, and preparing the next generation of media professionals.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS AND PROFESSIONAL DISTINCTION

According to the Cathy Hughes School of Communications Recommendation 306-2015, a candidate for promotion to Associate Professor must possess a terminal degree or, at minimum, a master's degree accompanied by professional prominence at the national or international level.

I satisfy and exceed these requirements.

I hold a Master of Arts in Audio Technology from American University. Prior to joining Howard University, I established a nationally and internationally recognized career as a GRAMMY-nominated recording artist, producer, engineer, educator, and cultural diplomat. My professional experience includes service as a Fulbright-Hays Scholar, cultural diplomacy appointments with the U.S. Department of State, international recording and performance projects throughout Asia, the Caribbean, Africa, and the Middle East, collaborations with major recording artists and global music organizations, and leadership roles within the Recording Academy. Notably, I am the first American artist (p. 232) to have ever performed in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous region of China, and my creative cultural diplomacy in Barbados is a matter of Congressional record (p. 17).

Rather than viewing these accomplishments as an endpoint, I viewed them as resources to be invested in Howard University. Throughout my probationary period, I have intentionally converted professional relationships into student opportunities, institutional partnerships, curriculum innovations, and nationally recognized creative scholarship.

TEACHING

Recommendation 306-2015 requires evidence of sustained excellence in teaching. I believe my record demonstrates not only excellent classroom instruction but a sustained commitment to expanding educational access through experiential learning.

During my probationary period, I have taught undergraduate courses in Multimedia Audio Production, Audio for Television and Film, Music in Media, and Advanced Audio Production, in addition to graduate instruction in Cinema Sound. My teaching has consistently received strong evaluations from students, peers, department leadership, and the School of Communications Appointment, Promotion and Tenure Committee.

My teaching philosophy is rooted in a simple belief:

Access changes outcomes.

Students deserve more than lectures about professional practice—they deserve opportunities to participate in it. Consequently, I have built classrooms that function as professional ecosystems where students collaborate with industry partners, work with real clients, engage emerging technologies, and build networks that extend beyond graduation.

This philosophy has resulted in new workforce pipelines with organizations including SiriusXM, the Recording Academy, Sonos, the United States Army, and numerous professional artists and producers. Students have secured employment with Spotify, SiriusXM, SoundExchange, the Denver Broncos, and other leading organizations as a direct result of opportunities cultivated through my teaching.

Additional documentation, student evaluations, syllabi, representative assignments, and evidence of student achievement are available within the Teaching section of my e-Portfolio.

RESEARCH AND CREATIVE ACTIVITY

Recommendation 306-2015 recognizes creative and professional activity as scholarly contributions within the Department of Media, Journalism and Film. My research and creative agenda has developed into a coherent interdisciplinary program centered on a single guiding question:

How can sound be intentionally designed to strengthen human connection, support care, advance learning, and preserve culture?

This question has guided the development of what I describe as Social Sonic Design—a framework that investigates how immersive audio can function as a tool for communication, education, historical preservation, and human well-being.

Rather than existing as isolated creative works, my projects collectively examine the role of sound in addressing real-world challenges. Across peer-reviewed publications, funded research, feature films, immersive installations, educational initiatives, musical works, and public scholarship, I have consistently translated professional practice into scholarly inquiry.

Representative accomplishments include:

• peer-reviewed publications and book chapters;
• Audio Engineering Society conference proceedings;
• nationally recognized creative productions;
• award-winning sound design;
• interdisciplinary health collaborations;
• immersive media research;
• externally funded projects;
• Recording Academy educational initiatives; and
• nationally distributed audio productions.

Collectively, these accomplishments demonstrate that my scholarly agenda satisfies and exceeds the department's expectations for creative scholarship while advancing Howard University's reputation within immersive media research.

Supporting documentation is available throughout the Research & Creative Work section of my e-Portfolio.

SERVICE

Recommendation 306-2015 requires significant service to the department, School, University, profession, and community.

Throughout my probationary period, I have viewed service as institutional stewardship.

My service includes leadership as Assistant Chair of the Department of Media, Journalism and Film; participation on departmental and School committees; contributions to strategic planning and accreditation efforts; legislative advocacy on behalf of creative professionals; national service through professional organizations; and community engagement initiatives supporting creators, educators, and public scholarship.

Beyond committee participation, I have consistently leveraged professional relationships to expand Howard University's visibility, strengthen departmental infrastructure, and create new opportunities for students.

Additional documentation is provided within the Service section of my e-Portfolio.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

My professional development activities have strengthened three interconnected dimensions of my academic career: technical expertise, scholarly productivity, and institutional leadership.

Through advanced certifications, national fellowships, leadership academies, interdisciplinary collaborations, and continuing professional practice, I have intentionally developed the knowledge required to sustain an innovative research agenda while building long-term institutional capacity at Howard University.

These experiences have enabled me to bridge industry practice and academic leadership while ensuring that Howard University remains engaged with rapidly evolving media technologies.

Representative documentation is available in the Professional Development section of my e-Portfolio.

CONCLUSION

Howard University entrusted me with the opportunity to transform a professional career into an academic one. During the past six years, I have sought to honor that trust by building programs, cultivating partnerships, advancing scholarship, producing nationally recognized creative work, mentoring students, and strengthening the institutional capacity of the Cathy Hughes School of Communications.

I respectfully submit that the accompanying dossier demonstrates not only that I have fulfilled the requirements for promotion to Associate Professor with tenure, but that I have done so in a manner consistent with Howard University's mission of excellence in truth and service.

Thank you for your thoughtful review of my application and supporting materials. I sincerely appreciate the time and care devoted to this process and respectfully invite you to explore the accompanying e-Portfolio, which provides representative evidence of the teaching, scholarship, creative activity, service, and professional development summarized throughout this letter.

Respectfully,

Carolyn Malachi, M.A.

Assistant Professor & Assistant Chair
Department of Media, Journalism and Film
Cathy Hughes School of Communications
Howard University