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Faculty
​​​​Education
PhD: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
MA: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign​
BS: Northwestern University

Service Responsibilties
Member, Leadership Council
Recorder for COM Area Meetings
Graduate Program Coordinator for Communication		​​​ ​Courses Taught
• Organizational Communication
• Research Methods in Comm
• Communication in Leadership
• Crisis Communication
• Graduate Seminar in Organizational Communication

Research Interests
• Collaboration, coordination, & conflict in interdisciplinary teams
• Disaster preparedness
• Disaster response training exercises

Biography

Elizabeth Carlson grew up in rural west Michigan (between Lowell and Saranac).  In addition to her academic experience, she has worked in market research, knowledge management, and training and development.  She enjoys mysteries, crossword puzzles, chocolate, and being a mom. ​


Recent Scholarship

Carlson, E., Cooper, K., & Pilny, A. (in press). Mixing methods in organizational communication research: Current state and prospects for advancing knowledge and enhancing community. Communication Yearbook, 40.  

Carlson, E. J., Poole, M. S., White, N. J., & Lammers, J. C. (in press).  A study of organizational responses to paradoxical demands: Dilemmas in interorganizational crisis management. Communication Research.​

Lammers, J. C., Atouba, Y., & Carlson, E. J. (2013). Which identities matter? A case study of professional identification and burnout. Management Communication Quarterly, 27, pp. 503-536. doi: 10.1177/0893318913498824​

​​​​Education
Ph.D: 1988, University of Kansas
MA: 1982, Wichita State
BS: 1978, University of Utah

​​​​ ​Courses Taught

• Intro to Debate

• Rhetorical Criticism


Research Interests

• Political Debate

• Argumentation

• Rhetoric


Biography

Ed grew up in Fresno, California and enjoyed debating as an undergraduate. He served as the Director of the CMU Forensics program for 25 years. ​


Selected Scholarship

Hinck, E. A. (2016). Challenges to recovering arguments once challenged in the public sphere. In Randy Lake (Ed.), Recovering argument (forthcoming), Taylor & Francis. Hinck, E. A., Hinck, S. S., Dailey, W. O., Hinck, R. S., & Ghanem, S. I. (2015).

Cultural differences in political debate: Comparing face threats in U.S., Great Britain, and Egyptian Campaign Debates. In Scrutinizing argumentation in practice, (Frans H. Van Eemeren & Bart Garssen, Eds.). Amsterdam, The Netherlands: John Benjamins.​

​​​​Education:
PhD: 1988, University of Kansas
MA: 1985, Texas State University
BA: 1980, Millikin University

Service Responsibilities
2016-17 Graduate Program Coordinator for Communication

​​​ ​Courses Taught
• ​Communication Research Methods
• Conflict Resolution

Research Interests
• Political Debates
• Interpersonal Communication
• Service-learning
• Leadership


Biography

Shelly Schaefer Hinck is a professor in the Communication and Dramatic Arts Department at Central Michigan University. She teaches courses in interpersonal communication, communication research methods, conflict resolution, and gender communication. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Kansas. Her research interests include civic engagement, political debates, service-learning, and leadership. Her work has appeared in Argumentation & Advocacy, Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, Sex Roles, and the American Behavioral Scientist. She was a CMU Excellence in Teaching recipient, a Michigan Campus Compact Service-Learning award recipient, and a CMU Woman of Excellence.​


Recent Scholarship

Hinck, E. A., Hinck, S. S., Dailey, W. O., Hinck, R. S., & Ghanem, S. I. (2015). Cultural differences in political debate: Comparing face threats in U.S., Great Britain, and Egyptian Campaign Debates. In Scrutinizing Argumentation in Practice, (Frans H. Van Eemeren & Bart Garssen, Eds.), John Benjamins: Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Hinck, S., & Scheffels, E. (2015). Transforming argumentative dialogue: Overcoming the  past through prison service-learning projects. Argumentation and Advocacy, 51.

Hullender, R., Hinck, S., Wood-Narker, J., Burton, T., & Bowlby, S. (2015).  Evidences of transformative learning in service-learning reflections.  Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 15, 58-82.

Hinck, S., Hinck, R., Dailey, W., & Hinck, E. (2013).  Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow republicans?  Politeness Theory in 2012 republican primary debates.  Argumentation and Advocacy, 49.​

​​​​Education:
Ph.D., Southern Illinois University
MA, Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville
BA, Eastern Illinois University

​​​​Accreditation:
APR (Accredited in Public Relations),
Public Relations Society of America

​​​
 ​Courses Taught

• Communication Capstone

• Crisis Communication

• Inte​​rcultural Communication

• Interpersonal Communication

• Organizational Communication

• Public Relations

• Training & Development


Biography

Dr. Krider worked in advertising, secondary education and as a communication consultant before completing her Ph.D. She did extensive communication training and workshops in the Midwest focusing on establishing rapport, NLP, deception, presentational speaking, employment skills, media relations and crisis communication.

She was one of the co-founders of the Integrative Public Relations program at CMU, cultivated a large and active chapter of the Public Relations Student of Society and worked with students to develop an in-house student agency. The CMU PRSSA Chapter was named in her honor. She has served on the Public Relations Society of America Educator’s Academy, East Central District and PRSA White Pine Chapter boards and co-chaired two national tasks force initiatives. 

She served in administrative positions as Assistant to the Dean, Interim Associate Dean, Associate Dean and Interim Dean of the College of Communication and Fine Arts (now the College of the Arts and Media), Integrative Public Relations Council Chair and Communication Area Coordinator.


Recent Scholarships

Krider, D. S. (2015). Assessing public relations education. In Johnson & Neff (Eds.), Learning to Teach (4th ed). New York, NY: Public Relations Society of America, 245-258

Krider, D.S., & Serini, S. (2014, Oct.). Millennials as leaders: Are they ready? Presentation at the International Public Relations Society of America Conference, Washington, DC.

Serini, S., & Krider, D. S. (2016). Millennials and public relations leadership in the 21st century: Are they ready? Public Relations Journal, 9(4), 1-20, New York, NY: Public Relations Society of America.

​​​​Education
Ph.D (Communication): 2009, The Pennsylvania State University
MA (Communication): 2004, Michigan State University
BA (Communication): 2002, Michigan State University

Service Responsibilites
Advisor, Communication Association
Member, Athletics Committee
Member, Gender Equity Committee for Athletics Honors Status Faculty​

​​​​ ​Courses Taught
• Foundations of Comm Theory
• Lying & Deception
• Inte​rpersonal Communication
• Dark Side ​of Communication
• Intercultural Communication

Research Interests
• Interpersonal & "Dark Side" Communication
• Friendship and Peer Communication
• Sexual Communication


Biography

Dr. Alysa Lucas is an Assistant Professor interested in interpersonal and relational communication. Her research interests focus on problematic communication in friendships. More recently, her program of research has explored the impact of friendship support on the sexual choices of young people. In 2014, she was awarded an Early Career Grant from CMU for a project entitled, “Emerging Adults in College: The Role of Friends in Sexual Decision-Making.” In the classroom, Alysa teaches a wide range of core and topical classes. Last year, she taught the new special topics class, Lying & Deception, and has proposed a new study abroad program for summer 2017 called “Exploring Gender Communication in Sweden.” In 2016, Alysa was a recipient of CMU’s Teaching Excellence Award. When not in the classroom or office, you may find Alysa at one of the many CMU Athletics events or catching up on the latest TV show.


Recent Scholarship

Lucas, A.A. (2016). "Got a secret. Can You Keep it?" Pretty Little Liar, friendship, and privacy. In K.G. Roberts (Ed.), Communication Theory and Millennial Popular Culture: Essays and Applications. New York, NY: Peter Lang.

Lucas A.A. (2014). Emerging adults in college: Communication, friendship, and risky sexual behaviors. In J.F. Nussbaum's (Ed.), The handbook of lifespan communication. New York, NY: Peter Lang.​

​​​​Education
Ph.D: University of Pittsburgh
MA: Wake Forest University
BA: University of Mary Washington		​​​ ​Courses Taught
• Video Games & Communication
• Intro to ​Debate
• Practicum in Debate Forensics


Biography​

Dr. Packer’s research interests span a wide variety of topics. He has written on the rhetoric of alien life, video games, social movements, and philosophical pessimism. He has taught debate in China and the United States at a variety of institutions. ​

Recent Scholarship

Packer, J. Alien Life and Human Purpose: A Rhetorical Examination through History. Lexington Books (2015).

Packer, J. “What Makes an Orc? Racial Cosmos and Emergent Narrative in World of Warcraft.” Games and Culture, 9. 2 (2014): 83-101.

Packer, J. “How Much Jail Time? Returning Women to the Abortion Debate.” Argumentation and Advocacy, 50. 2 (2013): 89-103.

​​​​Education
Ph.D: 1986, Temple University
MA: 1982, Central Michigan University
BA: 1980, St. Johns University

Service Responsibilities
Communication & Dramatic Arts Personnel Committee
Master of Science in Administration Council		​​​ ​Courses Taught
• Small Group Communication
• Communication in Conflict Management
• Communication and Social/Organizational Change
• Qualitative Research Methods

Research Interests
• Organizing for Social Change
• Conflict Management
• Diplomacy                    


Biography

I have been involved in the design and evaluation of various organizations for social change initiatives in Bangladesh, India, Thailand, and the U.S. I have also conducted research in conflict management, group decision-making processes, management selection and development, and technology diffusion in organizations. Most recently, I have served as a consultant to The Carter Center in Atlanta, GA, documenting President Carter's approach to negotiating peace with a focus on the settlement reached between Uganda and Sudan. I have received eleven research awards for top papers from The National Communication Association, The International Communication Association, and Central Michigan University's President's Award for Scholarly and Creative Activity.​


Recent Scholarship

2015 Papa, M.J. Public Speaking in the Communication Age. Southlake,TX: Fountainhead Press

2012 Papa, W.H., Papa, M.J., & Buerkel, R.A. Organizing for Social Change: Communicative Empowerment for Small Business Development and Job Training for People Who Are Poor. In L.R. Frey & K.M. Carragee (Eds.), Communication Activism (Vol. 3): Struggling for Social Justice Amidst Difference. New York, NY: Hampton Press.

2010 Papa, M.J., Mapendere, J., & Dillon, P.J. Waging Peace through Improvisational Action: Track-Two Diplomacy in the Sudan-Uganda Conflict. Southern Communication Journal, 75, 349-369.​

​​​​Education
Ph.D: Ohio University
MA: Central Michigan University
BA: Central Michigan University

Service Responsibilities
Basic Course Director
Curriculum Committee Chairperson
​​​​ ​Courses Taught

• Teaching College Communication

• Communication & Society

• Organizational Communication

• Small ​​Group Communication

• Speech Methods in Sec Schools

• Conflict Management

• Communication & Social/Org Change



Biography

Wendy H. Papa is a professor in the Department of Communication at Central Michigan University. She has been a Basic Course Director for over 25 years. She oversees the basic course (COM 101) and trains graduate teaching assistants to teach college communication. In addition, Dr. Papa teaches courses in organizational communication, diffusion of innovations, group communication, public speaking, conflict management and speech methods in secondary schools. Dr. Papa’s research interests include pedagogy, social justice, conflict management, and organizing for social change.


Selected Scholarship

Papa, W.H. (2015). Instructor’s Manual for Papa, M.J. (2014). Public Speaking in the Communication Age. Southlake, TX: Fountainhead Press. 

Papa, W.H., Papa, M.J., & Buerkel, R. (2012). Organizing for Social Change: Communicative Empowerment for Small Business Development and Job Training for the Poor. In L. Frey & K. Carragee (Eds.), Communication Activism. Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Press. 

Papa, W.H., Papa, M.J., & Buerkel, R. (2010). Competence in organizational conflicts. In W.R. Cupach, D.J. Canary & B.H. Spitzberg (Eds.). Competence in interpersonal conflict. New York: McGraw-Hill. 

Papa, M.J., Singhal, A., & Papa, W.H. (2006). Organizing for social change: A dialectic journey of theory and praxis. New Delhi: Sage. 

 Papa, W.H., Papa, M.J., Kandath, K. P., Worrell, T., Muthuswamy, N. (2005). Dialectic of Unity and Fragmentation in Feeding the Homeless: Promoting Social Justice through Communication. Atlantic Journal of Communication, 13(4), 242-271.

Education
PhD: 2009, Pennsylvania State University
MA: 2006, Pennsylvania State University
BA: 2003, Michigan State University​

Service Responsibilities
Area Coordinator for COM
Chair of the Planning Committee for the Michigan Undergraduate and Graduate Communication Conference ​
​​​​​Courses Taught
• Advanced Interpersonal Comm
• Independent Study
• Research Design in Communication
• Advanced Independent Study
• Thesis
• Persuasion & Social Influence

Research Interests
• Interpersonal Communication
• Health Communication
• Communication Theory


Biography

Dr. Weber's research interests lie at the intersection of interpersonal and health communication. Specifically, she is interested in understanding how interpersonal relationships both influence and are influenced by illness experiences. Dr. Weber’s most recent work explores how social and medical network members influence treatment decision making among cancer patients. Her work has been published in Human Communication Research and Health Communication, and she has co-authored a number of book chapters on related topics.​

Dr. Kirsten Weber, Professor of Communication, is a research collaborator of the ADVANCE Catalyst grant. In August 2019, Central Michigan University became one of six higher education institutions to receive the ADVANCE Catalyst Award from the National Science Foundation. The ADVANCE grant is an initiative committed to addressing barriers to institutional success for women in STEM at CMU.


Recent Scholarship

Weber, K. M. Family decision making. In. S. Pike (Ed.) The international encyclopedia of family communication. Oxford, UK: Wiley - Blackwell. [Accepted for publication].

Weber, K. M. & Solomon, D. H., & Meyer, B. J. F. (2013). A qualitative study of breast cancer treatment decisions: Evidence for five decision-making styles. Health Communication, 28, 408-421. DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2012.713775

Theiss, J. A., Estlein, R., & Weber, K. M. (2013). A longitudinal assessment of relationship characteristics that predict new parents’ relationship satisfaction: Applying and extending the relational turbulence model. Personal Relationships, 20, 216-235.  DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-6811.2012.01406.x

Weber, K. M. & Solomon, D. H. (2011). Understanding challenges associated with Breast cancer: A cluster analysis of intrapersonal and interpersonal stressors. In M. Miller-Day (Ed.). Family communication, connection, and health transitions: Going Through this Together (pp. 77-100). Hampton Press.​​​​

​​​​Education
BA: 1995, University of Maine 
MA: 1997, University of Maine
PhD: 2002, University of Connecticut

Research Interests
• Embarrassment
• Virtual Team Collaboration
• Online Social Support & Stigma
• Virtual Community

​​​ ​Courses Taught
• Dark Side of Communication
• Interpersonal Communication
• Nonverbal Communication
• Communication Facilitation
• Gender Communication
• Intro to Communication in Virtual Worlds

Service Responsibilities
• Director, Presentation Skills Center

Biography

Dr. Withers studies connections between the self and others, especially the emotional connections between people and the behaviors that threaten those connections. She examines the “dark” or aversive side of interpersonal relationships, including embarrassment, communication apprehension, and aversive online behavior. Her research concerning online social support focuses on the ways that people use self-disclosure and confirming online messages to build virtual community, identity, and manage social stigma (addiction, incarceration of a loved one). In addition, she studies virtual teams and the personal and interpersonal factors that affect team collaboration in virtual environments. Dr. Withers and her co-authors received the 2005 B. Aubrey Fisher Outstanding Article Award from the Western States Communication Association for their article, “AA online: The enactment of computer mediated social support.” She's been interviewed about online anger and sharing secrets by CNN.com and about obscene gestures by National Public Radio.


Recent Scholarship

Sherblom, J. C., Withers, L. A., Leonard, L. G., & Smith, J. S. (2018). Modeling Second Life team communication: The mediating effects of presence, identity, and trust on interactivity, openness, and satisfaction. In K. Lakkaraju & G. Sukthankar (Eds.), Social interaction in virtual worlds (pp. 103-129). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

Withers, L. A. (2016). Embarrassment. In V. Zeigler-Hill & T. K. Shackelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences (pp. 1-3). New York, NY: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_506-1. 

VanLear, C. A., & Withers, L. A. (2016). The Relational Linking System and other systems for studying self-presentation (self-disclosure), acceptance-rejection, and confirmation-disconfirmation. In C. A. VanLear & D. J. Canary (Eds.), Researching interactive communication behavior: A sourcebook of methods and measures (pp. 77-92). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. 

Leonard, L. G., Sherblom, J. C., Withers, L. A., & Smith, J. S. (2015). Training effective virtual teams: Presence, identity, communication openness, and conversational interactivity. Connexions, 3 (1), 11-46.



Staff​​