LMU’s Department of Communication Studies has unveiled its newly minted Communication Studies (CMST) Media Lab, a space designed to empower students with the resources, space, and hands-on experience that will set them up for success in media production. The lab will serve as a hub for coursework, student organizations, and faculty research.
“This space reflects our commitment to preparing students for a rapidly evolving media landscape while fostering creativity and scholarship that make a real impact,” says Jason Jarvis, Department of Communication Studies chair.
Located in St. Robert’s Hall, the CMST Media Lab is equipped with cutting-edge technology to support a range of academic courses, including: “Digital Diversities: Media Production as Social Justice,” “Applied Media Production” (Launching Spring 2026), “Sound Studies: The Art of the Podcast,” and “Internship for CMST Minor Programs.”
Beyond the classroom, the media lab will serve as the creative engine for CMST’s social media team, which produces content for the department’s Instagram and LinkedIn pages, and the “On the Bluff” podcast club, a student-led initiative that explores campus life and student concerns. Faculty advisor, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies Corrina Laughlin, supports the club as it uses the lab to produce its regular podcast series.
Students are already embracing the opportunities the lab provides. Communication studies major Annika Mahtani says: “Working in the podcast studio enables me to really put my learning into action and collaborate with like-minded people to facilitate thought-provoking work.”
The lab will also advance faculty research. Romy RW, assistant professor of communication studies and recipient of LMU’s prestigious Ascending Scholar Award in Spring 2025, plans to use the CMST Media Lab during her Spring 2027 sabbatical for a groundbreaking study on how podcasts can improve university students’ mental health. This project builds on her previous research on peer mentorship and student well-being.
The CMST Media Lab represents a bold step forward for LMU’s Department of Communication Studies—providing students and faculty with the tools to tell stories that matter.
Hear more from Assistant Professor of Communication Studies Corrina Laughlin in the video below. Laughlin developed “Sound Studies: The Art of Podcast” in Fall 2021. She advocates for podcasting as a powerful tool in the communication studies classroom.
