Joe Biden turned 78 today. When he’s sworn in as president in two months, he will become the oldest U.S. president in history. Throughout his campaign, there have been concerns about his mental toughness and stamina for the job. Dr. Brian Ott, head of the department of communication at Missouri State University, studies presidential rhetoric. He shares with the Associated … [Read more...] about How is President-elect’s Joe Biden’s presidential rhetoric?
Do you have something you hope to change or build upon this year in your life? If you’ve ever struggled to make a substantial life change, it might be because you’re too focused on correcting your weaknesses rather than investing in your strengths. That’s according to Clifton Strengths Finder. Nora Cox, senior instructor of communication at Missouri State … [Read more...] about How you can make substantial life changes
What does it mean to be human in a world obsessed with technology? Posthumanities explore that question, and Dr. Jake Simmons, associate dean of research and graduate student success for the College of Arts and Letters, takes this research seriously. Simmons studies the philosophy of communication, which focuses not on what people are saying, but who or what is … [Read more...] about Citizens of the digital age
People with mental health disorders may communicate differently than people who don’t. This brings a new meaning to the phrase “It’s not about what you say, but how you say it.” Dr. Isabelle Bauman, interim communication department head at Missouri State University, studies how mental health influences communication styles. She is writing a book on her research. Examining … [Read more...] about How mental health disorders influence communication styles
Selecting a university and attending is a big decision. But it certainly helps when you have a support system that has been through it before. Dr. Kelly Wood, interim director for first-year programs and provost fellow for student success at Missouri State University, and Dr. Stephen Spates, assistant professor of communication (who went through a specialized advising course to … [Read more...] about Helping first-gen students succeed