News & Events

Dr. Margaret Quinlan, associate professor in the Department of Communication Studies, is nominated for a regional Emmy nomination for “The Acoustics of Care,” her documentary on DooR to DooR, an organization that brings performing, literary and visual artists to inpatient and outpatient settings. Dr. Quinlan is the second of three producers on the documentary, with […]

In his new book, Dr. Dan Grano examines the (un)holy relationship of sports and religion. As per the book description for, The Eternal Present of Sport: Rethinking Sport and Religion (Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press, 2017), Dr. Grano “rethinks the sport-religion relationship by positioning sport as a source of theological trouble. Focusing on bodies, time, […]

A hearty congratulations to our departments recipients of the 2017-2018 scholarships. Julio Cazares is the recipient Rebecca and Walter Roberts Scholarship. Delfina Erochenko is the recipient of the Cy. N. Bahakel Scholarship. Zachary Burdick and Jade Johnson are the recipients of the Brycie Baber Scholarship. And Theordore Karabet is the recipient of the Joe Epley […]

It’s here! Hot off the virtual presses is the 2017 Communication Matters departmental ezine. Read great stories about current students, alums, faculty and all the other Department of Communication accomplishments this academic year. With Editor Cheryl Spainhour, Student Contributors Amanda Lea and Alex Richardson and Designer Leigh Ann Privette, there’s great stuff on every page. […]

A trio of the department’s journalism students have impressed the professionals at a local TV station Thanks to journalism instructor Debra Tobin, Justin Lape, Annalisha Henderson and Hali Liggins worked with WSOC-TV’s investigative producer to check the backgrounds of more than 1,000 public employees. “This was very important work, but it was time-consuming and more […]

Congratulations to Alexus Wall, who successfully defended her honors thesis this morning. For the thesis, titled, “The Rhetoric of Protest and Confrontation: A Critical Look at How Frames Shape a Digital Social Movement and Its Success,” Dr. Rich Leeman served as her advisor and Dr. Dan Grano and Dr. Ashli Stokes rounded out the committee. […]

Tiera Gibson, a Department of Communication Studies senior, received the Most Outstanding Undergraduate Tutor award at the National Association of Communication Centers Conference at Grand Valley State University. The conference, April 21-22, allowed representatives from communication centers from around the country — and Tiera was one of ten finalists for the top tutor award. “The […]

Congratulations to Jamie Smith, who successfully defended her Communication Studies honors thesis on Thursday. For the thesis, titled: “The Role of Debriefs in Adventure-Based Learning,” Dr. Cliff Scott was her advisor and Ms. Sayde Brais and Dr. Ashli Stokes rounded out the committee. Students interested in the departmental honors program should view information online at […]

Senior Lecturer Cheryl Spainhour ceated a led a British Media and Culture Study Abroad program in London. Eleven students visited the citry over Spring Break (2017) and toured news media outlets, including the BBC, The Guardian, The Times of London, The Independent and The Evening Standard. Students also visited The House of Lords while in […]

Melody Dixon-Brown is proud to present the 2017 winners of the Target case study. Congratulations to Richard Rust, Jessica Benitez, Reid Murrow, Josh Scott and Lauren Rogers. Ten teams from her two business communication classes (COMM 3160) competed. Each team had to write a proposal and present unique ideas to improve Target’s markets share during […]

To report and write an article about an unsolved murder, Cheryl Spainhour, a senior lecturer in the Department of Communication Studies, consulted with a Pulitzer Prize winner at the Poynter Institute. The result, under the direction of Lane DeGregory, is an article in the May issue of Charlotte Magazine. For it, Spainhour reported and wrote […]

As part of Communication Studies Day, Dr. Mark Knapp, Professor Emeritus at the University of Texas at Austin, will deliver a free talk on “Understanding Lying & Deception in a Post-Truth Era.” His remarks will begin at 5 p.m., April 11, in the Prospector Gold Room. The one-hour talk is open to the public.

Other people “tri” to get stuff done like Dr. Erin Basinger, Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Studies, but a trio of accomplishments should have Comm Studies fans applauding — in triplicate. Check this triad of triumph: A first author article in her first year as a professor: Basinger, E. (2017) Explicating the Appraisal […]

April 1, 2017 ⧫ Department of Communication Studies’ monthly newsletter. New Face: Lisa-Michelle Forsyth A coffee-loving foodie has taken up residence in a corner of Colvard with the aim of helping students strategize for success. That’s right, the Department of Communication Studies has a new departmental adviser, Lisa-Michelle Forsyth. In her six years of academic […]

Nan Wilson Wikenfeld saw a way to make a difference, and she has — by founding a Communication Studies scholarship. Thanks to her generous contribution, The Nan Wilson Wilkenfeld Communication Studies Graduate Travel Scholarship provides funding for UNC Charlotte Communication Studies MA students to travel for academic conferences, data collection, or study abroad. For spring […]

The UNC Charlotte Forensics Team finished strong this weekend at the tournament in Ocean City, MD. Jordan Boyd finished 1st Impromptu out of 37 competitors and 2nd in Declamation out of 39 competitors. Jordan also received Overall Impromptu Speaker and Declamation Speaker of the Year awards at this tournament! Congratulations to the UNC Charlotte Foresnics […]

Talk about excellence! A submission from Senior Lecturer Debbie Kilby Baker and two Communication Studies students has been selected for inclusion in the 2017 National Association of Communication Centers conference. The topic is “Elevator Going Up? Uplifting Lessons Learned from Redesigning the Marketing of Elevator Speech Events” and the presenters are, in addition to Ms […]

March 1, 2017 ⧫ Department of Communication Studies’ monthly newsletter. Come to Social Justice Talk Dr. Larry Frey, Professor of Communication at the University of Colorado Boulder, will be the spring speaker for the Communication Studies Graduate Student Association. Dr. Frey studies applied communication – specifically collective communicative practices among marginalized people, communication activism for […]