September 17, 2026

Bradley University has launched a new Media Engagement Lab designed to give students hands-on experience with the analytical tools and workflows shaping today’s media industry.
The Media Engagement Lab, known as MEL, bridges the gap between classroom learning and professional practice. Through faculty-supported coursework, workshops and events, students will learn how to transform data and emerging trends into meaningful insights and strategic decisions.

“Data increasingly influences how organizations understand audiences, evaluate communication and make decisions,” said Dr. Sara Erlichman, Assistant Professor of Communication and Director of the Media Engagement Lab. “The Media Engagement Lab gives Bradley students opportunities to move beyond learning about analytics and begin practicing it. That experience will help them enter the workplace with greater confidence, adaptability and professional readiness.”

MEL is designed to help students develop technical proficiency, pattern recognition, hypothesis formation, data analysis and analytical judgment. The lab also emphasizes collaboration, curiosity, transparency and the ethical use and reporting of data.

Faculty members can partner with MEL to develop activities and assignments tailored to the learning objectives of individual courses. The lab’s resources can enhance instruction across disciplines by helping students apply classroom concepts to current media conversations, audience behavior and communication challenges.

Although analytics platforms are used in communication and business programs across higher education, dedicated media labs offering a structured, applied learning environment remain uncommon. MEL gives Bradley students a purpose-built space to practice the responsibilities of professional media and analytics roles while working collaboratively with faculty and peers.
For more information about Bradley’s Media Engagement Lab click here.