of communications, journalism and digital media at the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (CJC Online) and at Georgia State University (GSU), where she directed study-abroad programs in new media and entrepreneurship in Asia and served as director of the department's writing center. She also taught at Georgia Tech, Kennesaw State University, and Saybrook University. McEdwards won a "Digital Champions" fellowship at GSU, and a Scripps Howard Fellowship to the Cronkite School to promote and develop media entrepreneurship curricula. Personal life and philanthropy McEdwards is a trainer and mentor to young journalists and participates in many education and training events and professional affiliations. As a member of GSU's President's Society, McEdwards supports scholarships for minority students studying abroad and women's philanthropy initiatives. She served on a Georgia Communications and Government Relations Advisory Council related to educational opportunities for students from all socioeconomic backgrounds. She has been a donor and a judge for various social impact media awards and access initiatives globally. McEdwards was moderator at the Yale Symposium on Human Trafficking and has moderated for organisations such as the Ford Foundation for causes related to the persecution of journalists and the promotion of young entrepreneurs. She became a US citizen in 2008, while retaining her Canadian citizenship. In 2011, McEdwards suffered a bout of debilitating vertigo linked to unilateral deafness and vestibular degeneration. Live studio conditions were a factor. She has advocated for the Canadian Hearing Society and has volunteered with the Vestibular Disorders Association (VEDA) to increase public awareness about hearing loss, Ménière's disease, dizziness and balance issues. References https://www.cnn.com/CNN/anchors_reporters/mcedwards.colleen.html Journalist profile, Cnn.com retrieved Sept. 8, 2010 https://www.jou.ufl.edu/2017/05/22/colleen-mcedwards-online-masters-program-instructor/ Academic profile, UF, Jou.ufl.edu retrieved Jan. 21, 2020 https://cas.gsu.edu/profile/colleen-mcedwards/ Academic profile, GSU, GSU.edu retrieved Sept. 8, 2015 http://fitlot.org/miamis-solution-to-its-obesity-problem-cnns-colleen-mcedwards-reports/ Miami's Solution to its Obesity Problem, report, fitlot.org retrieved April 21, 2011 https://vestibular.org/news/09-15-2014/former-cnn-anchor-shares-her-story Former CNN Anchor Shares Her Story, vestibular.org, retrieved Jan. 22, 2020 https://www.warnermediagroup.com/newsroom/press-releases/2001/09/11/cnn-coverage-of-attack-on-us-airs-worldwide-across-turner CNN Sept. 11 Attack Coverage News Release, warnermediagroup.com retrieved Jan. 21, 2020 https://www.sagentwm.com/news/category/marshall-eichenauer/economy/page/13/ McEdwards Insightful Report, analysis, sagentum.com, retrieved Sept. 21, 2020 https://variety.com/1999/tv/news/cnn-s-millennial-programming-set-1117756841/ CNN Millennial Coverage Programming Press Release, variety.com, retrieved Dec. 14, 1999 https://www.multichannel.com/news/cnn-plans-pope-benedict-s-first-official-us-visit-366098 CNN Pope Benedict First Official U.S. Visit coverage press release, multichannel.com, retrieved Aug. 1, 2010 https://journalists.org/projects/georgia-collaborative-2014-challenge-fund/ Georgia News Collaborative Founders and Funders, journalists.org, retrieved Sept. 22 2020 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZO0oNRTnFs McEdwards News Coverage, youtube.com, sample retrieved Jan. 21, 2020 https://www.hamiltonnews.com/news-story/5413371-from-the-halls-of-parkside-to-cnn-business-anchor/ From the Halls of Parkside to CNN Business Anchor, McEdwards Profile, hamiltonnews.com retrieved