News

Dr. Basinger Earns Trio of Accolades, Including Research Grant
April 6, 2017
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:
  • Being awarded a UNC Charlotte Faculty Research Grant: funds are to go toward a project called, "Examining the Experiences of African-American/Black Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes: A Communal Coping Perspective." Through this work, Dr. Basinger is studying how Black/African-American individuals cope with their type 2 diabetes in the context of their families. Research on type 2 diabetes, she explains, focuses nearly exclusively on White individuals and families, in spite of the fact that all ethnic/racial minority groups in the U.S. are more likely to be diagnosed with T2D than Whites. "I'll be conducting interviews with people living with T2D plus one of their family members to learn more about their experiences managing the disease," she adds. 
 
Three cheers for Dr. Basinger!

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Graduate creates scholarship, challenges others to follow
March 16, 2017

Nan Wilson Wakefiled (right) and Ali DuBois (left) of UNCC’s Development Office

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 2017, up to five awards ranging from $200-$400 will be awarded. Students interested in applying should contact Dr. Christine Davis, Graduate Program Director.

Nan graduated from the Communication Studies MA program with dual degrees -- an MBA and an MA -- in May 2014. As part of her graduate studies, Nan was competitively selected to study abroad for a semester at Zeppelin University in Germany. Since graduating, she has taught Business Communication classes for the Department of Communication Studies, and been involved with the Faculty Learning Community for Adjunct and Part-time Faculty, as well as the Communication Across the Curriculum program for Belk College Students. 

In addition to her work on campus, Nan also is President of Wilkenfeld Consulting, a business development, team-building, and leadership development consulting organization in Charlotte. She is pictured with Ali Dubois (left) of UNC Charlotte’s Development Office.
 
Nan would like to challenge other alumni and friends of the Communication Studies Department to contribute to this travel fund. Contact Dr. Christine Davis, Graduate Program Director, or Dr. Jason Black, Department Chair, for more information about making a donation to this fund.


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Infertility Talk with Dr. Johnson and Dr. Quinlan
February 15, 2017

Please join the department of Communication Studies Dr. Quinaln and the department of History's Dr. Johnson  for a discussion on infertility at the UNCC Cone Center, Room 210 on Tuesday, Feb. 28th from 10:00-11:30 a.m. This is a free event and open to the public. This event is sponsored by research on women's health interest group and health academy.


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Forensics Team Finishes Strong at Lynchburg University
February 6, 2017

The UNC Charlotte had a great showing this past weekend at the CFA tournamen hosted by Lynchburg University. Jordan Boyd finished in 1st place for both Declamation and Impromptu speaking and McKeena Jahns received 1st place in Persuasion and 4th place in Impromptu. The team also walked away with the 5th place finish for overall schools. Congratulations again to the team for these outstanding results.

 

 

 


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Work begins on workbook
February 2, 2017
It's a UNC Charlotte Communication Studies book bunch! Dr. Christine Davis, Graduate Coordinator and Professor, plus lecturers Sayde Braisand Brandy Stamper have signed a contract with Kendall-Hunt Publishers to write A Student-Centered Workbook to accompany: 

Davis, C.S., & Lachlan, K. (2017). Straight talk about communication research methods (3rd Ed.). Dubuque, IA: Kendall-Hunt.

Songratulations to the straight-talking collaborators -- and their excellent work(book) ahead!

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'Inside' information: Grad student wins award
February 2, 2017

Emma Butterworth, a second-year MA candidate in Communication Studies, says she is "extremely honored and excited" to be given the opportunity to share her research at this year's Southern States Communication Association Conference. As well she should be -- not only is Emma's paper the Top Student Paper in Mass Communication, but it's also, in part, about understanding emotions.

Emma wrote "Emotions, Mental Health and Advertising: An Analysis of the Advertising Campaign for Disney/Pixar’s Inside Out," for Dr. Richard Leeman's Prosem class last year.

SSCA will be in Greenville, S.C., April 5-9. Congratulations to Emma!


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Research dives into student appitudes
February 2, 2017
Cross-national CrossFit? Maybe, but a great mental workout is certain with Dr. Margaret Qinlan's new publication, a study of student appitudes (attutides about apps) in the diet/fitness category.
 
The brain-boosting information from the Associate Professor is here:
Cho, J. (South Korea), Lee, H. E. (South Korea), & Quinlan, M. M. (2016). Cross-national comparisons of college students’ attitudes toward diet/fitness apps on smartphones. Journal of American College Health.
 

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Norander Leads Career Program Analysis
January 23, 2017
A grant may help Communication Studies faculty and students improve internship experiences across the state.   
 
Dr. Stephanie Norander, in her roles as Associate Professor Communication Studies and as Executive Director, Communication Across the Curriculum (CAC), has partnered with Carrie Silver, Program Manager of the University Professional Internship Program (UPIP) to win a grant from the North Carolina Career Development Association (NCCDA). Their $900 research grant is for project entitled: "Exploring Student Perspectives and Crafting Best Practices for the University Professional Internship Program at UNC Charlotte."
 
But, students have already benefited from the grant. Seniors in a capstone Organizational Communication course (COMM 4141) in Fall 2016 were able to help facilitate focus groups, creating peer-to-peer opportunities for sharing experiences. That focus group data from current and past UPIP student participants should help Dr. Norander and her partners make evidence-based decisions about UPIP improvements, then share the UPIP model and best practices with NC institutions. 
 
 
Data analysis is underway now. 

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Davis' Latest Book Available
January 23, 2017
Congratulations to Dr. Christine Davis! The latest book from the professor and grad program director for the Department of Communication Studies came out December, "focused" on focus groups!

Davis, C. S. (2016). Focus Groups: Applying Communication Theory through Design, Facilitation and Analysis.New York, NY: Routledge.


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Why Twitter & Kim Kardashian Matters
April 11, 2016


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