Dr. Etem’s teaching philosophy follows bell hooks’s philosophy of “teaching as a movement against and beyond boundaries.” In her courses, she creates dynamic, inclusive spaces that encourage students to push past the boundaries between the known and unknown as they cultivate critical media literacy and production skills. These spaces are built through rigorous assignments and interactive activities that challenge students to question established knowledge while developing their own perspectives. She fosters this intellectual curiosity and creativity through discussions and engagement with students' work, always responding with respect and openness.

Interdisciplinarity is at the core of Dr. Etem’s pedagogy. She integrates readings and methodologies across disciplines to empower students in developing a critical voice, enabling them to engage with the evolving discourse surrounding media production. By encouraging students to think creatively, take intellectual and artistic risks, and experiment with different media formats, she helps them discover their own unique voices as scholars and creators.

A central tenet of Dr. Etem’s approach is the incorporation of non-elite and non-hegemonic narratives, ensuring that historically underrepresented scholars and marginalized perspectives are amplified in the classroom. Committed to an anti-oppressive pedagogy, she equips students with the tools to critically engage with media while challenging dominant paradigms, ultimately fostering a deeper, more nuanced understanding of power, representation, and identity.

Dr. Etem blends research with production in all learning environments. For example, media production is an integral part of her courses, enhancing students’ research skills, digital presence, and public engagement. At Emerson, her students utilized digital archival platforms and historical collections to explore the industrial, technological, and social conditions that shaped media production, distribution, exhibition, and reception. Their projects resulted in digital portfolios, curatorial contributions, and journalistic endeavors that not only reinforced media history concepts but also contributed to public knowledge. (See #vm100withprofetem on Instagram.)

She actively mentors PhD, MA, and undergraduate students, incorporating them into collaborative research projects that expand their academic and creative capacities. Her mentorship extends beyond conventional classroom settings, fostering a culture of intellectual exchange, critical inquiry, and hands-on learning.

Dr. Etem is dedicated to creating a classroom environment where contradictions are embraced, allowing students to engage in open-minded, respectful, and productive discussions.

By mentoring, researching, and teaching with an emphasis on social responsibility, interdisciplinarity, and production-based inquiry, Dr. Etem empowers students to become critical thinkers, engaged citizens, and innovative media practitioners.