The communication department will feature well-published gender scholar Dr. Diana K. Ivy in an Oct. 5 colloquium to discuss gender and communication issues on college campuses.

Students to meet author of textbooks used in COM classes

Ivy, a communication professor at Texas A&M University—Corpus Christi, is an author on three textbooks: “GenderSpeak” (6th ed.), “Nonverbal Communication for a Lifetime” (2nd ed.) and “Communication: Principles for a Lifetime” (6th ed.).

Some Missouri State students may be familiar with her work. Her texts “GenderSpeak” and “Nonverbal Communication for a Lifetime” are used in the COM 307 Gender Communication and COM 325 Nonverbal Communication courses, respectively.

Ivy researching the communication of consent

Ivy is on sabbatical this semester visiting universities across the U.S. to explore approaches to educating students about sexual safety. The work contributes to an upcoming book chapter she is authoring on the subject, specifically about the communication of consent.

Missouri State will be one of Ivy’s sabbatical stops.

Communication Department Head Dr. Shawn Wahl said students have much to gain by interacting directly with scholars like Ivy.

“Dr. Ivy is recognized nationally for her research related to important topics such as gender and nonverbal communication. Having a national guest scholar like Dr. Ivy visit our university is a great benefit to our students, faculty and campus community.”

Three decades of teaching, studying various communication facets

Ivy has been an educator at the collegiate level for 30 years, primarily teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in nonverbal, interpersonal and gender communication. Her post-doctoral work at Oxford University in England focuses on C.S. Lewis and communication.

She will finish out her sabbatical in the spring, traveling to Australian universities to examine campus sexual assault issues and their educational programs about consent and sexual safety.

Event details

Date: Oct. 5
Time: 11:50 a.m.
Location: Craig 205
Admission: Free and open to the public