Faculty Areas of Research

Adressing Real World Problems

Faculty members have crossed over our historical division of three concentrations (i.e., rhetoric, relational/organizational communication, and critical media studies) based on methodological approaches and worked to identify and collaborate in shared interests and substantive areas. We aim to build on our collective theme of social justice and broaden our understanding and investigation of disparities and public urgencies in our lived environment, with a focus on communicative practices in contexts.

Social justice reflects and encapsulates the core themes of our faculty members' work. Together, faculty members have investigated social justice on an interpersonal level (e.g., Dr. Elaine Hsieh's work on minority patients in healthcare settings; Dr. Susanne Jones' NSF-funded work on empathy; Dr. Deborah Yoon's work on identities of international adoptees), organizational/institutional level (e.g., Dr. Kate Lockwood Harris' work on organizational responses to sexual violence), national level (e.g., Dr. Mary Vavrus' work on media, war, and the US military; Dr. Atilla Hallsby's work on the national security state), and sociocultural and sociopolitical level (e.g., Dr. Gil Rodman's work on race and racism in media; Dr. Laurie Ouellette's work on reality TV's influences on public policy; Dr. Emily Winderman's work on reproductive justice).

The Department has collaboratively and organically converged in addressing issues faced by a world in crisis (e.g., Dr. Ronald Greene and Dr. Zornitsa Keremidchieva's work on public discourse and democracy, Dr. Atilla Hallsby's work on surveillance, secrecy, and privacy; Dr. Kate Lockwood Harris' work on ending sexual violence, and Dr. Emily Winderman, Dr. Ascan Koerner, Dr. Susanne Jones, Dr. Elaine Hsieh, and Dr. Deborah Yoon's work broadly fit into health and reproductive justice).

We also lead the field in feminist communication theory, with faculty members (e.g., Dr. Vavrus, Dr. Winderman, Dr. Harris, and Dr. Ouellette) tackling diverse social issues to address inequality and injustice in our communities.

In addition, the teaching faculty members have also contributed to the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion by focusing on instructional pedagogy and community-based projects (e.g., Dr. Wendy Anderson's 10K GooseChase project funded through multiple UMN academic units; Dawn Schot Klotzbach's annual student film showcase). Both faculty members and graduate students are committed to building thriving communities from one generation to the next through our teaching, research, and service.

The Department emerged from the pandemic with an unwavering commitment to pursuing the public good by nurturing citizen-teacher-scholars to engage with our communities by critically reflecting and challenging existing structures and infrastructures that silence the Other. Through our research, teaching, and services, we are committed to collaboratively and creatively generating resources and opportunities to support an environment that embraces diversity, accountability, community, and excellence.