Ryan McPherson, M.A.
Professor of Practice, Communication
Contact
- MS 4.01.50A9
- ryan.mcpherson@utsa.edu
- Curriculum Vitae
- Website
Bio
Ryan McPherson is an award-winning Professor of Practice and Faculty Champion at The University of Texas at San Antonio. Ryan also advises Content Creators, AdClub (Advertising Club), and the National Student Advertising Competition Team Internship at UT San Antonio.
Ryan founded Storytelling Movement LLC to help entrepreneurs, executives, and educators elevate thinking, actions, and emotions for transformative communication and sustained business growth. Ryan has taught 25 distinct university communication courses and served as a consultant, coach, and presenter for over 10,000 participants. He has also improved over 25,000 presentations since 2004. A past Adobe Max and Innovations in Online Learning speaker, Ryan holds a master's degree in Organizational Development and Instructional Communication from Texas State University and an undergraduate degree in persuasion. He has completed over 20,000 hours of higher education course creation and design training.
He has served as a sales agent, journalist, debater, tour guide, university ambassador, orientation leader, advertising copywriter, public relations and promotions team leader, and past president of several nonprofits. Ryan is an Adobe Creative Campus Faculty Fellow, ACUE Faculty Fellow, Quality Metrics Peer Reviewer, Texas State Education Technologies Integrations Alum, Corporate Communication Training Alum, UTSA Bold Course Development Academy Alum, "Futur" Business Bootcamp Alum, and UT San Antonio Strategies for Inclusive Teaching Institute Alum.
Teaching
- Teaching:
- National Student Advertising Competition Team Internship Advisor
- Advertising and Influence
- Digital Storytelling
- Podcasting
- AI and Personal Branding
- Public Relations
- Public Relations Planning and Campaigns
Degrees
- M.A. in Communication Studies, Texas State University - San Marcos (2004) Certificate in Corporate Communication and Training, Texas State University - San Marcos (2004)
B.A. in Communication Studies, Texas State University - San Marcos (2003)
Honors and Awards
McPherson, R. G. (2023) KSAT Explains, Artificial Intelligence Generative AI Chat GPT Interview, Myra Author, San Antonio KSAT News
Host of Storytelling Movement Podcast
Introduction To Top AI For Storytellers, National Storytelling Network:
How to Start Your Podcast
Presentations
Presentations
2026 How To Start Your Podcast, UT San Antonio Content Creators
2026 Part Two: Empowering Nursing Education with AI, UT Health San Antonio Nursing Faculty
2025 Part One: Empowering Nursing Education with AI, UT Health San Antonio Nursing Faculty
2025 Storytelling With AI, Youth, Educators, and Storytellers, National Storytelling Network
2025 Using Adobe Express Clip Maker, Adobe Express Institute, Academic Innovation
2025 Using Firefly AI From Adobe, Adobe Peer Learning Network, Academic Innovation
2025 Leveraging AI For Storytellers, San Antonio Storytelling Association
2025 Using Microcredentials In Online Learning, Academic Innovation
2025 Students as Partners Project, UTSA Academic Innovation
2025 Best Practices For Teaching With AI (Panel), College of Liberal and Fine Arts, UTSA
2025 Best Practices For Asynchronous Online Teaching, Online Learning Network, UTSA Academic Innovation
2024 Student Experience Project, UTSA Academic Innovation
2024 Emerging Technology Partners, UTSA Academic Innovation
2024 AI for Data Storytelling in Communicating Research: From the Classroom to the Boardroom, Innovating Teaching and Learning in the Era of Generative AI
UT System Conference
2024 ADTS Teaching Showcase, UTSA Academy of Distinguished Teaching Scholars and Academic Innovation
2024 Using Generative AI Systems For Storytelling, San Antonio Storytellers
2024 Getting Buy-In From Leadership, Institute of Internal Auditors of San Antonio
2023 Rotary Club Club of San Antonio Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) Panel Discussion, Rotary Club of San Antonio Downtown Chapter
2023 Public Relations, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Ethics, Public Relations Society of San Antonio (PRSA)
2023 Leveraging Text Based Generative AI For Professional Writing and More, UTSA PACE
2023 What is ChatGPT, and how will Artificial Intelligence change teaching and learning?, Invited Presentation, UTSA Academic Innovation
2023 Benefits of Canvas Video, Canvas Transition Team, Academic Innovation Center Grand Opening Video, UTSA Academic Innovation
2022 “Ungrading Lite” Presentation Video, Ungrading Course Contribution, Invited by Dr. Frances Matos, UTSA Academic Innovation, Teaching, Learning and Digital Transformation
2022 Multiple Digital Teaching Interviews, UTSA Department of Communication
2022 Online Communication “UTSA Privacy Two-Step” Presentation For UTSA Critical Incident Response Plan, UTSA Academic Innovation
2021 Student Success from Campus-wide Use of Creative Cloud, Presentation at Adobe Max
2021 3 Steps To Strategic Innovative Organizational Change, Leadership Lab, North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce
2021 Rubrics in Bold Beginnings, Academic Innovation Academy, UTSA Academic Innovation and Faculty Success Teams
2021 Summer Facilitation of Cohort C, Academic Innovation Academy, UTSA Academic Innovation
2021 4 Recorded Module Presentations, Effective Practices in Digital Instruction, UTSA Academic Innovation Academy. UTSA Academic Innovation
2021 Spring Presentation, UTSA Instructional Librarians: Working With Faculty Online
2020 Workshop and Online Module, North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce Leadership Lab, Value Propositions: Initiating Professional Relationships Online Module
2020 Presentation, Creating Connections and Campus-Like Experiences in The Digital Classroom, UTSA Academic Innovation
2020 Workshop and Online Module, Research Poster Presentations, UTSA Graduate School Career Badge Program
2020 Presentation, UTSA QM Invited Presentation: Instructional Materials
2020 Presentation, UTSA Spring 2020 OER Webinar for Faculty, UTSA Libraries
2020 Co-Facilitated Series, Small Teaching Online, UTSA Academic Innovations
2019 Workshop, 2019 UTSA Provost Academy, Principles of Storytelling
2018 Workshop, Tejas Storytelling Conference, Practicing Audience Engagement Strategies for Co-Creative Storytelling or Kindred Reunions
2018 Workshop, North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce Leadership Lab, Persuasive Adaptive Communication Practices
2017 Workshop, North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce Leadership Lab, Quick Pitch Assignment: Next Steps and Presentation
2017 Workshop, UTSA Storytelling Festival, UTSA Department of Education, Audience Participation Storytelling Methods
2016 Workshop, North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce Leadership Lab, Active Persuasive Writing
2016 Workshop, UTSA Storytelling Festival, UTSA Department of Education, Telling Your Story In An Employment Interview
2015 Workshop, North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce Leadership Lab, Persuasive Writing
2014 Workshop, Voto Latino, Y tú quién eres? Sharing the Story of Self
2014 Workshop, Faculty Center, Presentation Skills: Emphasizing Storytelling and Active Learning
2014 Workshop, UTSA Early Childhood Institute, Using Strategies from the Rice Storytelling Project
2014 Invited Panelist, Texas State University, Invited Panelist: Special Panel Honoring Dr. Lee Williams as a part of Texas State University Communication Week
2013 Special Course Development, Developed Professional Development Course: Writing For Mass Media as an Open Educational Resource (OER).
2013 Workshop, UTSA Faculty Center / Teaching and Learning Center, Facilitating Productive Debates as A Method of Deeper Learning: Building Better Student Oral Communication, Critical Thinking, and Teamwork Skills
2013 Workshop, UTSA Faculty Center / Teaching and Learning Center, Presentation Skills: Emphasizing Active Learning and Visual Aids For UTSA TA Orientation
2013 Workshop, Innovations in Online Learning Conference, Saylor University: Bringing Order to Chaos in Open Educational Resources
Innovations in Online Learning Conference
San Antonio, Texas
2013 Workshops, Toastmasters Regional Conference, Advice for Anyone New To Storytelling and Applying Burke’s Pentad To Improve Storytelling
Toastmasters Regional Conference, San Antonio, Texas
2013 Workshop, UTSA Teaching and Learning Center, Conflict Management Strategies For Instructors and Students, UTSA Teaching and Learning Center
2013 Workshop, UTSA Teaching and Learning Center, Communication Strategies, UTSA Teaching and Learning Center
2010 Interpersonal Communication, Come to Class Day, UTSA
2007 Panel, Communication Careers In Higher Education, 19th Annual Communication Week, Texas State University - San Marcos
2005 An Introduction to Rhetoric, Dr. Villigran’s Foundations 3023 Class, UTSA
2004 Workshop, Communicating in Teams, District IV ASAP (Association of Student Advancement Programs) Conference, Texas State University- San Marcos
2004 Panel, The Impact of Argumentativeness and Verbal Aggression on Adolescent Dating Relationships, Eastern Communication Association, Boston, MA
2003 Workshop, Leadership Training, Southwest Leadership Conference, Texas State University- San Marcos
