News & Events

Three Department of Communication Studies associate professors were honored at the recent National Communication Association convention. Dr. Loril Gossett (pictured) shared in a book award for Best Edited Book of 2017-Applied Communication Division. She is a co-editor with two others for “Volunteering and Communication Volume 2: Studies in International and Intercultural Contexts.” Dr. Margaret Quinlan, […]

Communication Studies student Julio Cazares has been awarded the prestigious James McCormack Scholarship for his achievements through the Office of Adult Students and Evening Services (OASES). In addition to being a full-time student, working two jobs, advocating for adult students on campus, and volunteering with local charities, Julio also aims to give back upon graduation. […]

Two Senior Lecturers and two Adjunct Professors for the Department of Communication Studies were recognized at last night’s Men’s Soccer Faculty Appreciation Night. Senior Lecturer Melody Dixon-Brown, plus Adjunct Professors Kaye Lewis and Debra Tobin, were on the field for their recognition. Each player chose one faculty member to honor for supporting the player’s success […]

They traveled from North Carolina to Nebraska to take home a pair of awards. Yes, at the 2017 Annual Conference for the Organization for the Study of Communication, Language, and Gender, in Omaha, Nebraska, top honors went to a pair of UNC Charlotte Department of Communication Studies faculty/researchers. First, for their research on communication surrounding […]

Senior Lecturer Debbie Baker has become high society — 1946 Society, that is! In a surprise invitation from Chancellor Philip Dubois, the Department of Communication Studies and University Speaking Center leader was welcomed into the 1946 Society’s Gold Circle. “The 1946 Society celebrates those who demonstrate loyalty through continuous annual support of UNC Charlotte,” Ms. […]

A CBS Network News piece on the NFL national anthem protests went out to affiliates all over the country, citing the expertise of Department of Communication Studies Associate Professor Dan Grano. Click to review the film: http://miami.cbslocal.com/2017/10/12/nfl-national-anthem-kneeling-young-players/ Dr. Grano also is going to be on Charlotte Talks next Tuesday, so set your radio or podcasting […]

A peer-reviewed academic journal covering media and communication studies from a feminist perspective has published a commentary and criticism article written by Dr. Stephanie Norander, Executive Director of UNC Charlotte’s Communication Across the Curriculum program and Associate Professor for the Department of Communication Studies. In Dr. Norander’s piece for Feminist Media Studies, “Kamala Harris and […]

Here’s an internship experience swiped right! Madison DeJaegher, a Communication Studies student set to graduate this year, got a write-up in publications including AdAge for her work this summer in Cincinnati where she helped design a Tinder-based recruiting tool! Madison credits her Communication and Mass Media course with helping her learn about team management and […]

They had questions, he had answers — and both are available online! Dr. Dan Grano, Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Studies, recently shared his thoughts about his new book, The Eternal Present of Sport: Rethinking Sport and Religion, with Religion Dispatches, a series from USC Annenberg. In the Q&A interview, Grano explains how […]

Just in case you aren’t feeling your first full day of classes, here’s some touching news from Dr. Rachel Plotnick, Communication Studies Department Assistant Professor. Her article on haptic media, “Force, flatness and touch without feeling: Thinking historically about haptics and buttons,” was published last week in New Media and Society: http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1461444817717510. A forceful congratulations […]

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 […]