Sometimes it’s hard to find a professor when you need one.

Laura Vazquez, assistant professor of communication, makes sure she’s always available for her students.

“I really can’t say that I don’t engage with students every day,” she said.

Communication professor Jeffery Chown said Vazquez is an asset to the department.

“She has an intense focus and balances an intellectual side with a practical side in an unusual way,” he said. “She has cutting-edge technical expertise and she’s able to do a lot of things with technology that a lot of professors that have been here a while can’t keep up with.”

Vazquez said she does find it difficult to stay on top of technology because it changes so rapidly. She teaches classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but is on campus for the majority of the week.

“She’s there [in her office or the editing lab] after 5 p.m. all the time,” Chown said.

Vazquez said she also gives her home number and her cell phone number to her students so that they can get ahold of her in a pinch.

She said she teaches from a feminist perspective.

“I choose to be inclusive,” she said. “I choose language that hopefully makes everyone feel welcome. Everyone should feel equally welcome in the classroom.”

Matt Holdren, a senior communication media studies major, said Vazquez always has out-of-class time and that he is learning a lot.

“She’s very knowledgeable about film,” he said. “She’s a good teacher and she’s always willing to listen.”

Vazquez completed her Ph.D. in radio, television and film at Northwestern University, and earned her master’s degree in communication from NIU.

When not working with students or on a project of her own, Vazquez said she likes to watch all types of movies, go running or walk in the woods, but she does value her time with students.

“I love seeing the light bulb go on when they finally get it,” she said. “That motivates me to work harder.”

Vazquez said she is starting a documentary film festival in March for students. The festival is called “Reality Bytes,” and is not just for NIU students.