Dr. Marcela Moyano, is a communications scholar, documentary filmmaker, professor, and higher education leader whose career spans more than two decades in media, education, storytelling, and community engagement. She earned her Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from St. Thomas University, where her dissertation, Documentaries for Social Change: An Examination of Blooming Hope led to the development of two influential frameworks—the Participatory Action-Based Documentary (PAD) Model and the Participatory Action-Based Learning (PAL) Model—both designed to harness documentary film as a tool for social transformation.
Dr. Moyano’s academic background includes a Master’s degree in Communication Arts with a specialization in Public Relations from Barry University, a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Arts from St. Thomas University, and earlier studies in Mass Communication at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá, Colombia. She has taught a wide range of undergraduate and graduate courses, covering media theory, television production, ethics, public speaking, documentaries, global media, business communication, and more. Her publications—including articles on social justice, participatory documentary methods, and digital activism—reflect her commitment to exploring how media can empower communities and drive social change.
An accomplished presenter and researcher, Dr. Moyano has delivered papers and workshops at national and international conferences, addressing themes such as digital storytelling, child slavery in Haiti, social media and social justice, and the transformational power of film. Her creative work includes several documentaries, notably Blooming Hope: Harvesting Smiles in Port-de-Paix, an award-winning film recognized at the Miami International Film Festival. She has also served as executive producer for films such as United in Diversity (2024) and Stillness (2014).
Dr. Moyano has held significant leadership roles in higher education, including Director of the Institute for Communication, Entertainment, and Media at St. Thomas University and Program Coordinator for Communication Arts. Since 2015, she has served as Communications and Advancement Director and Professor at United International College, where she oversees the college’s marketing and communications strategy, develops recruiting campaigns, builds partnerships, facilitates media coverage, and teaches communications courses. Her work combines strategic communication, media production, and educational leadership to support institutional growth and student success.
Active in community and professional service, Dr. Moyano serves on the Board of Directors of United International College and the Board of Trustees of Fundación Unilatina in Colombia. She is also the long-standing Chair of the WLRN/PBS Community Advisory Board, contributing to public media initiatives and community outreach. Her work has earned her recognition such as “15 Noteworthy Art Professors in Miami” and the Leader Award from the St. Louidionor Association of Haiti.
A multilingual educator fluent in English and Spanish, with knowledge of Italian and Creole, Dr. Moyano continues to advance her mission to use media, storytelling, and education as catalysts for justice, cultural understanding, and social empowerment.