Jess Nerren
Contact
Bio
Dr. Jess Block Nerren is a researcher of Disability Inclusion, Public Relations and Teacher Education as a full time faculty member at CSUSB in the Department of Communication Studies. In 2023/24, Dr. Nerren was on special assignment as the Faculty Inclusion Fellow for Disability, Difference and Accommodation at CSUSB. Previously, she served as Interim Faculty Director of the Services to Students with Disabilities office, where she oversaw accommodations for over 2,000 students attending the university. She is the editor and contributing author of the scholarly book Rethinking Perception and Centering the Voices of Unique Individuals: Reframing Autism Inclusion in Praxis.
As an alum. and product of the CSU, Dr. Nerren completed her Educational Doctorate in 2021 at CSUSB. In addition, she has an M.A. in Communications from CSU Fullerton, where she was awarded as the CSUF College of Communications Outstanding Graduate Student in 2012.
She has sourced and/or served as PI for over $1.23M in internal and external funding for the benefit of her students and for the development of an important research agenda on inclusion in many forms. She is a scholarly reviewer for the American Educational Research Association (AERA), the International Communication Association (ICA), the Journal of Education, and Disability Studies Quarterly.
In the community, Dr. Nerren is heavily involved in the autism nonprofit and behavioral health community with past and current service: on the Autism Parent Advisory Board to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, on the executive committee of the Riverside County Special Education Local Plan Area as Public Information Officer and Legislative Chair, as a founding board member of The Miracle Project national nonprofit, as the communications chair of the Los Angeles, Orange County, Santa Barbara and San Diego Autism Walks, and on the Stakeholder Committee and Diversity Special Interest Group for CalABA, the state governing body for behavior analysts in the State of California providing services to individuals with autism and other developmental and behavioral needs.
Dr. Nerren is the founder of CoyotePR, the student-run PR agency on campus. In that role, she led a team of students to win the PRSA Inland Empire Polaris Capella Award for excellence in PR tactics in 2019.
For more than twenty years, outside of the CSUSB community, Dr. Nerren worked as a public relations, marketing, and photography professional including as the president of her own public relations firm, Felten Media Services. In this capacity, she served as PR and Marketing Director for multiple law firms, and she was also the publicist for a major national autism nonprofit for many years. Her work led her to serve clients in sports, entertainment, media, the arts, event, nonprofit, publishing, and professional services.
Dr. Nerren also previously served as a contributing photojournalist for the Orange County Register and the Los Angeles Daily News Group, with a daily readership of over 800,000 homes.
Education
Ed.D. Educational Leadership, Higher Education, CSU San Bernardino, 2021. Dissertation: The Public Relations of Inclusion. Committee: Dr. Becky Sumbera (chair), Dr. Ahlam Muhtaseb, Dr. Erica Howell
M.A. Communications, Professional Communications, CSU Fullerton, 2012 (Outstanding Graduate Student, College of Communications)
B.A. Philosophy, Pitzer College (with Major out of Pomona College), 2004
Courses/Teaching
- Comm 6075 Strategic Communication (graduate course)
- Comm 675 Strategic Planning in Public Relations (graduate course)
- Comm6085 Research Thesis/Project Proposal (graduate course)
- Comm 591 Internship in Communication
- Comm 542 Crisis Communication
- Comm 5401 Crisis Communication
- Comm 5311 Fundamentals of Social Media Mgmt.
- Comm 5302 Communication Law and Policy
- Comm 4491 Advanced Practicum in Strategic Communication: CoyotePR
- Comm 442 Public Relations Campaigns
- Comm 4292 Advanced Practicum in Mentoring (Self Advocacy)
- Comm 399 Community Service in Communication
- Comm 344 Public Relations Writing
- Comm 3403 Business Literacy for Strategic Communication
- Comm 3402 Public Relations Writing
- Comm 342 Publication Design
- Comm 3372 Publication Design
- Comm 3211 Business and Professional Comm
- Comm 2592 Research Practicum
- Comm 243d Public Relations Practicum Coyote PR
- Hon 3300 Environmental Sustainability and Strategic Communication
- Hon 3350 Communicating the Environment
Research and Teaching Interests
Public Relations; media literacy; community engaged learning; effective communication in the ability, autism and behavioral health communities; public relations and pedagogy; inclusion; higher education leadership, teacher education, disability inclusion, DisCrit
Publications and Select Scholarly/Creative Work:
Book Chapter Author. Nerren, J. B. (2025). Tapping Autistic Expertise: Inclusive peer review by autistic scholars in autism inclusion-related inquiry. Research Methods for the Marginalized: A Communication Approach for Vulnerable Populations. [Eds. Smith, B., and Smith, S.] Routledge. Arthur M. Page Center, Penn. State.
Mentor and Chair. Rivas, S. (2024). Ableism in Higher Education: Platicas Framing faculty Perception and a Call to Action. IAFOR International Conference on Arts and the Humanities.
Reviewer. Nerren, J. B. (2024). Page Center and Johnson Legacy Scholar Grants, Arthur W. Page Center for Integrity in Public Communication, Penn State.
Author. Nerren, J. B. (2024). Decolonizing Communication of Autism Inclusion: Interrogating Inherited Ableist Practices. Journalism and Mass Communication. David Publishing.
Reviewer. Nerren, J. B. (2024). Research Methods for the Marginalized. A Communication Approach for Vulnerable Populations. [Eds. Smith, B., and Smith, S.] Routledge. Arthur W. Page Center, Penn. State.
Research Poster. Nerren, J. B. (2024). Disability Civil Rights History in the CSU, UDL and Pedagogical Strategies. Science of Teaching and Learning CSU Symposium.
Mentor. Williams, P. Race, Neurodiversity, & Advocacy: What Patients & Practitioners Must Do in a Healthcare Setting. CSUSB Student Research Competition, Office of Student Research [First place for college]
Reviewer. Nerren, J. B. (2023). Educational Administration Theory and Practice, UK Zhende Publishing Limited.
Reviewer. Nerren, J. B. (2023). AERA Open, American Educational Research Association.
Thesis Chair. Rivas, S. (2023). Understanding disability in higher education: Frames of faculty perception of disabilities and a call to action. [forthcoming]
Book Editor. Nerren, J.B. (Ed.) (2022). Rethinking Perception and Centering the Voices of Unique Individuals: Reframing Autism Inclusion in Praxis. IGI Global Publishing.
Reviewer. Nerren, J.B. (2022). Departures in Critical Qualitative Research, University of California Press.
Book Chapter Co-Author. Nerren, J.B & Rivas, S. (2022). Framing Disability Inclusion: A Literature Review and Self Reflection by an Individual with Disability. Rethinking Perception and Centering the Voices of Unique Individuals: Reframing Autism Inclusion in Praxis. IGI Global Publishing.
Book Chapter Author. Nerren, J.B. (2022). Could There be an AutCrit?: Reframing Delivery of Autism Inclusion Curriculum for Equity. Rethinking Perception and Centering the Voices of Unique Individuals: Reframing Autism Inclusion in Praxis. IGI Global Publishing.
Book Chapter Author. Nerren, J.B. (2022). The Public Relations of Inclusion: Teacher Preparation, UDL and Reframing for Autism Inclusion. Rethinking Perception and Centering the Voices of Unique Individuals: Reframing Autism Inclusion in Praxis. IGI Global Publishing.
Senior Reviewer. Nerren, J. B. (2022). Journal of Education, IAFOR.
Executive Producer. Oregel, R., & Nerren, J. (2022). Comm Studies ¿Qué es Esto? Oregel/Nerren Productions.
Book Chapter Co-Author. Nerren, J.B & Rivas, S. (2022). Framing Disability Inclusion: A Literature Review and Self Reflection by an Individual with Disability. Rethinking Perception and Centering the Voices of Unique Individuals: Reframing Autism Inclusion in Praxis. IGI Global Publishing.
Book Chapter Author. Nerren, J.B. (2022). Could There be an AutCrit?: Reframing Delivery of Autism Inclusion Curriculum for Equity. Rethinking Perception and Centering the Voices of Unique Individuals: Reframing Autism Inclusion in Praxis. IGI Global Publishing.
Book Chapter Author. Nerren, J.B. (2022). The Public Relations of Inclusion: Teacher Preparation, UDL and Reframing for Autism Inclusion. Rethinking Perception and Centering the Voices of Unique Individuals: Reframing Autism Inclusion in Praxis. IGI Global Publishing.
Senior Reviewer. Nerren, J. B. (2022). Journal of Education, IAFOR.
Book Chapter Author. Nerren, J. (2022). Prevention of Online Harassment and Cyber Bullying. Research Anthology on Combating Cyber-Aggression and Online Negativity. IGI Global Publishing. [peer reviewed reprint in new book]
Poster. Nerren, J. B. (2022). Perception is Everything in UDL - Reframing Perception to Shift Actions in UDL Teacher Preparation. Universal Design for Learning International Summit
Scholarly Book Editor. Nerren, J. B. (2022). Rethinking Perception and Centering the Voices of Unique Individuals: Reframing Autism Inclusion in Praxis. IGI Global Publishing. [under contract scheduled for 2022]
Author. Nerren, J. B. (2021). Socially De-Constructing Unsolicited Affirmation: A Review of “Sitting Pretty.” Journal of Critical Issues in Educational Practice. 11.
Author. Nerren, J. B. (2021). Engaged Social Media in Higher Education While Avoiding the Label of Striving. Journal of Critical Issues in Educational Practice. 11.
Reviewer. Nerren, J. (2020). Journal of Education: Covid-19 special publication, IAFOR.
Reviewer. Nerren, J. (2020). Journal of Education: Inclusive Education special publication, IAFOR.
Chapter Author. Nerren, J. (2020). Chapter IX: Prevention of Online Harassment and Cyber Bullying. Salazar, L. [editor]. Handbook of Research on Cyberbullying and Online Harassment. IGI Global Publishing.
Reviewer. Nerren, J. (2020). CSU Media Arts Festival. Films and Screenplays reviewer.
Reviewer. International Communication Association (ICA) 2020 Conference, Public Relations Section and Health Communication Sections
Reviewer. International Communication Association (ICA) 2020 Conference, Health Communication Section
Co-Author. Nerren, J. and Vierra, J. (2020) Combining Pedagogy and Modern Technology into the Public Relations Classroom: Arousal Theory as a Roadmap for Student Success. Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, 2(20).
Co-Author. Nerren, J. and Vierra, J. (2019) Adapting Modern Technology into the Public Relations Classroom: Analysis of Pedagogy. IAFOR Conference Proceedings
Author. Nerren, J. B. (2018). Civic Engagement, Fake News and The Path Forward. Journalism and Mass Communication, 2. doi:10.17265/2160-6579/2018.02.001
Selected Grants and Fellowships:
Intellectual Life Fund (Co-Author), 2025, University funding for major disability studies speakers throughout the year as an asset to intellectual engagement on campus.
Learning Aligned Educational Program. Federal Research-Study Program (Principal Investigator), 2024, Federal funding for research practices by students in neurodiversity space that establish students as scholars and leaders in the field of neurodiversity inclusion related to their degrees and interests.
Autism Society of America Inland Empire. Neurodiversity Space (gift), 2024, Community-based investment in resources of the new neurodiversity space.
Office of Small Business Advocate. Neurodiverse Entrepreneurship, 2024, (Principal Investigator, authorized signor) Neurodiverse entrepreneurship for neurodiverse accessibility exploration in physical and extended reality spaces in collaboration with OSBA, xReal extended reality laboratory at CSUSB, and the University of California Riverside as an Accelerate California Business Hub grant recipient.
Giving Tuesday Campaign, CSUSB Development Office (donations), 2023, A crowdfunded donation across the campus community and business communities to support the new neurodiversity space.
Department of Rehab. Inclusion Educator Training (grant, Principal Investigator, Facilitator), 2023, Vocational rehabilitation services between California State University San Bernardino and the California Department of Rehabilitation for SELPAs, County educational offices and School districts on disability inclusion related to transition to school and work in adult life.
Department of Rehabilitation, Workability-IV (grant), 2023, A comprehensive support program for transitioning college students with differences into post-graduation employment led by a team of four full time staff who are funded by the grant.
College of Arts and Letters Dean’s Mini Grant (grant), 2022, For the completion and publication of a scholarly book anthology on communication, inclusion and education.
CSU Chancellor's Adobe Grant (grant, co-recipient, author), 2020, Investment by Adobe and the CSU system in a new bilingual inclusion film on communication studies.
AEJMC Early-Career Kopenhaver Fellowship (recipient), 2020, An esteemed mentoring and publication fellowship of only 50 communication faculty nationwide.
Digital Marketing Certificate (grant, co-author), 2019, Investment in the creation and implementation of a new digital marketing certificate opening new pathways of study and expertise for students entering a digital space.
Service Learning Fellowship (grant), 2018, For the implementation of real-world practical service to the community and to the campus implemented into coursework. A grant awarded by the CSUSB Office of Community Engagement
Teaching Skills Study Award (grant), 2018, For the investment in faculty to attend and pursue additional development opportunities related to teaching and pedagogy. Awarded by the CSUSB Teaching Resource Center