The communication department’s signature annual event, COM Week, will occur on Feb. 22-26 this year, and brings with it speakers who are leaders in their fields. This year’s theme is Foundation.
Each event begins at 11:30 a.m. in Plaster Student Union Ballroom East.
Monday, Feb. 22
Dr. Sandra Petronio
Communication privacy management
Dr. Sandra Petronio (PhD. University of Michigan), who developed Communication Privacy Management (CPM) theory, is currently a communication professor at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and in the IU School of Medicine. Recently, she has been appointed director of the newly formed Communication Privacy Management Center.
Petronio has spent the last 35 years developing the evidenced-based CPM theory. Her 2002 book on CPM theory, “Boundaries of Privacy: Dialectics of Disclosure,” won the Gerald R. Miller Award from the National Communication Association and the book award from the International Association of Relationship Research.
Her areas of expertise include interpersonal, health and family communication. She also studies privacy, disclosure and confidentiality.
Tuesday, Feb. 23
Dr. Kory Floyd
Interpersonal relationships
Dr. Kory Floyd (PhD. University of Arizona) is an award-winning professor of communication at the University of Arizona. His research focuses on the communication of affection in close relationships and its effects on stress and physiological functioning.
He has written 14 books and more than 100 scientific papers and book chapters. He is the current editor of Communication Monographs.
One of his newest books, “The Loneliness Cure,” examines the problem of affection deprivation and identifies strategies for increasing affection and intimacy in close relationships.
His has earned the Charles H. Woolbert award, NCA’s Bernard J. Brommel award and the International Association for Relationship Research’s Early Career Achievement awards.
Wednesday, Feb. 24
Dr. Jeffrey McCune
Intercultural communication/diversity
Dr. Jeffrey Q. McCune, Jr. (PhD. Northwestern University) is an associate professor at Washington University-St. Louis. He is perhaps one of the freshest critical voices today offering new perspectives on topics such as popular culture,race, gender, sexuality, and religion.
McCune’s newest project, “READ!: An Experiment in Seeing Black,” is a monograph which explores ways of “knowing” black people beyond what he calls “canonical prejudices.” This work provides a unique approach the study of race, gender, sexuality and class toward an ethics of care and critical generosity.
McCune is the recipient of the NCA’s 2015 GLBT Division Book of the Year for his book, “Sexual Discretion: Black Masculinity and the Politics of Passing.” In it he explores the negotiations of black masculinity and sexuality in everyday life, media and American literature.
Thursday, Feb. 25
Dr. Larry Frey
Social justice
Dr. Larry Frey is a professor and associate chair of graduate studies in the department of communication at the University of Colorado-Boulder.
Frey’s research seeks to understand how participation in collective communicative practices — especially by those who are marginalized and oppressed — makes a difference in individual and communal lives, and how communication researchers can use their theories, methods, pedagogies and other practices to promote social justice.
Frey has authored and edited a combined 17 books and 90 other publications, receiving 19 distinguished awards, including the NCA’s Gerald M. Phillips Award for Distinguished Lifetime Applied Communication Scholarship and NCA’s Group Communication Division’s Career Achievement Award.
Friday, Feb. 26
COM Alumni Speakers, Alumni Stories:
The COM Degree as Professional Foundation
The following alumni will speak on this day of events:
Sean Wheeler
Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications
United Way of Greater Kansas City
Tina McGuire
Director of Marketing and Merchandising
Hallmark, Kansas City
Other associated events
In addition to the speaker series, the communication department has a mixer planned with featured guest Dr. Larry Frey. The event will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 25 at the Springfield Brewing Company. Faculty, graduate students and alumni are invited.
The department will also have a Maroon Minute feature during the Feb. 24 basketball game.
