Instructional Technology and Distance Education Services

Xinyue (Gordon) Liu

Instructional Designer I
CWT 208F
956.326.2054

Academic Background

• Ph.D. Candidate (All But Dissertation) in Communication, North Dakota State University
• M.A. in Emerging Media Studies, College of Communication, Boston University, 2019
• B.A. in Communication, University of Minnesota-Duluth, 2017
• B.S. in Statistics, University of Minnesota-Duluth, 2017

Professional Experience

• Instructional Designer I, Texas A&M International University, 2026-Today
• Adjunct Professor, Texas A&M International University, 2024-2026
• Assistant Basic Course Director, North Dakota State University, 2021-2024
• Ph.D. Research/Teaching Assistant, North Dakota State University, 2019-2024

Certifications

• Quality Matters: Peer Reviewer Course, 2026
• Quality Matters: Applying the QM Rubric (APPQMR), 2025

Trainings

• Applying the QM Rubric (APPQMR), Quality Matters
• Peer Reviewer Course (PRC), Quality Matters

Awards

• Melissa Beall Award for Top Panel, Basic Course Interest Group, Central States Communication Association
• Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award, Department of Communication, North Dakota State University
• Best Student Presentation 2nd Place, World Communication Association Conference

Presentations

• Mu, D., Villarreal, J., & Liu, X. (2026, April). Learning Through Play: How Technological Affordances and Psychological Experiences in Educational Games Enhance the Learning Process. Paper presented at Central States Communication Association 2026 Annual Conference, Minneapolis, MN.
• Abrego, P., Liu, X., Soulas, M., & Vallarta, C. (2026, March). From Stage Fright to Spotlight: Using VR to Reduce Speech Anxiety. Presented at Texas A&M System Tech Summit, Frisco, TX.
• Daggs, J., Lau, A., Liu, X., Pawlowski, D., Richards, R., & Vicente. (2025, November). In Alena, R. (Chair), Elevating our Discipline: We Don’t Mind Taking the Backseat, We Just Want to be in the Car. Panel Discussion presented at 111th National Communication Association Annual Conference, Denver, CO.
• Westerman, D., Bowman, N., & Liu, X. (2025, June). “Embrace or Embargo? Is That the Best Question?: Students’ Attitudes Toward AI and Their Potential Sources. Paper presented at 75th International Communication Association Annual Conference, Denver, CO.
• Ribarsky, B., Atay, A., Miller-Ott, A., Murphy, R., Piscia, J., Pensoneau-Conway, S., & Viramontes, A. (2025, April). In Liu, X. (Chair), Feeling the Case Crunch? Widening the Scope of Budgeting/Planning. Panel Discussion presented at Central States Communication Association 2025 Annual Conference, Cincinnati, OH.
• Villarreal, J., Liu, X., & Mu, D. (2024, November). “Uninstall the Game, Bro”: Exploring the Role of Frustration, Motivation, Self-Determination Theory, and Reengagement in Video Games. Paper presented at 110th National Communication Association Annual Conference. New Orleans, LA.
• Prentiss, S., Gehrke, P., Horm, D., Hunter, K., & Liu, X. (2024, November). In Hunter, K. (Chair), Greater Regards for Managing Communication Anxiety to Support Student Success and Wellness. Panel Discussion accepted at 110th National Communication Association Annuel Conference, New Orleans, LA.
• Young, J., Brenneise, A., Wang, T., Sanford, Amy., & Lazic, G. (2024, April). In Liu, X. (Chair), With Diverse Vision and Unified Voice: Actionable Advocacy for the Foundational Communication Course and its Constituents (Melissa Beall Award for Top Panel). Panel Discussion presented at Central States Communication Association 2024 Annual Conference, Grand Rapids, MI
• Liu, X., Lazic, G., Stout K., Brownen, T., & Corlee, T. (2024, April). In Freeman, N. (Chair), Cultivating Cultural Competencies in the Basic Course. Panel Discussion presented at Central States Communication Association 2024 Annual Conference, Grand Rapid, MI.
• Liu, X., Woods, B., & Berry, I. (2023, November). Adopting Virtual Platform to Reduce Communication Apprehension. Paper presented at 109th National Communication Association Annual Conference, National Harbor, MD.
• Westerman, D., Vosburg, M., Liu, X., & Spence, P.R. (2022, November). What’s In a name and/or a frame?: Ontological framing and naming of a social actor and social responses. Paper presented at 108th National Communication Association Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.
• Liu, X., (2022, July). How Can Media Help? A Longitudinal Study on Implementing Virtual Environment to Reduce Communication Apprehension. Abstract presented at World Communication Association Conference, Honolulu, HI.
• Berry, I., Huisman, D.M., Hanna Edwards, A.A., Liu, X., Mu, D., McKinnon-Crowley, J. Peterson, J.M., & Steinberg, C., G. (2022, April). In Jason, M. (Chair), Re-connecting the basic course: evaluating learning technologies used in the classroom. Panel Discussion presented at Central States Communication Association 2022 Annual Conference, Madison, WI

Memberships

• Chair, Undergraduate Education and Administration Interest Group, Central States Communication Association
• Member, International Communication Association
• Member, National Communication Association

Publicatins & Book Chapters

• Kelly, S., Vareberg, K., & Liu, X. (2026 In Press). Instructional Communication in Cross-Cultural Communication. In S. M. Croucher (Ed.). Cross-Cultural Communication. Wiley.
• Westerman, D., Bowman, N., & Liu, X. (2026 In Press). The good, the bad, and the learning: Students’ reported sources for learning about the positives and negatives of AI. Review of Communication.
• Westerman, D., Vosburg, M., Liu, X., & Spence, P.R. (2024). What’s In a name and/or a frame?: Ontological framing and naming of a social actor and social responses. Human-Machine Communication, 8, 185-203. https://doi.org/10.30658/hmc.8.9
• Zhang, L., Cummings, J.J., Liu, X., Mu, D., & Sun, B. (2024). Excitation transfer across displays of different immersive quality: Investigating the temporal dynamics of intrastimulus arousal escalation and decay. Media Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1080/15213269.2023.2294282 
• Gustafson, E., Berry, I., Liu, X. (Accepted for publication, 2023). College as medium: An ecological examination of communication departments. In G. Hummel & A.R. Hall (Eds) Perspectives on Communication. Kendall Hunt.
• Downs, E., Limperos, A., Strange, S., Schultz, W., Engberg, A., Oyaas, T., Gala, D., Bloom, N., Bloom, K., Harpster, K., Liu, X., Petters, N. (2017). Fair Game: Using Simulators to Change Likelihood of Distracted Driving at the Minnesota State Fair. Communication Research Reports, 35(2), 121-130. doi:10.1080/08824096.2017.1406847