The Department of Communication is delighted to welcome Assistant Professor Dr. Gordana Lazić. Her interest in teaching at Missouri State University was largely due to the university’s commitment to undergraduate education as well as a welcoming unit of teachers who share similar goals and values. Lazić appreciates the department’s efforts in preparing students for workplace success and democratic engagement so they may “navigate the unique challenges of life in the global networked world of the 21st century,” she says. Lazić found a pleasant surprise in Missouri State’s efforts to meaningfully involve the community through initiatives both existing and in development, and is excited to explore what Springfield has to offer.

Lazić was born in Belgrade, Serbia and lived there until the age of 29. She first became interested in communications because she feels that it “embodies interdisciplinarity” and was drawn to its range and relevance. Lazić attended the University of Belgrade receiving a BA in Serbian Literature and Language, equivalent to a U.S. master’s degree. During her studies, the University of Belgrade largely participated in a series of peaceful protests from 1996-1997 in response to an attempted electoral fraud by then President Milošević. The movement became a template for how to peacefully overthrow a political regime, and participating in that event led Lazić to an interest in social movements and the idea of resistance. At 29 she moved to the U.S. to attend the University of Colorado Denver, where she earned an additional master’s degree in Communication and a PhD in Communication Studies. After graduating, Lazić taught at the University of Colorado Denver before moving on to teach at Texas Tech until the Spring of 2020.

Outside of teaching, Lazić is working on two essays: one is about a children’s show featuring queer, multicultural, and feminist politics, and the second focuses on dissent and resistance strategies in non-democratic environments. Some of her published work can be found in the Quarterly Journal of Speech and Communication Quarterly. Overall her research and teaching interests also include cultural differences and dominant ideologies, as well as resistance tactics involving cultural art and everyday life. Lazić hopes to prepare her student to live more meaningful and fulfilling lives in personal, professional, and public spaces while improving their practical skills. If she could give one piece of advice to herself as an undergraduate, she would advise to “take more notes and trust your critical impulses.”