Faculty and Staff

Communication Studies faculty and staff have moved to Riverview

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Department Chair - Roseanna Ross

Office number: Riverview 117B
Phone number:    (320) 308-2217
E-mail address: rgross@stcloudstate.edu

Faculty

Traci Anderson

Office number:   Riverview G12A
Phone number:   (320) 308-1259
E-mail address: tlanderson@stcloudstate.edu

Degrees held and granting institutions
B.S., Interpersonal Communication, Eastern Michigan University
M.A., Interpersonal and Organizational Communication, University of Cincinnati
Ph.D., Communication Theory, University of Oklahoma

Primary and/or current research interests
Dr. Anderson’s research focuses on computer-mediated interpersonal communication; specifically, the relationships among uncertainty, person-perceptions, and impression management and how these factors influence the development and maintenance of online social and personal relationships. In addition, Dr. Anderson is interested in the study of family communication patterns among young adult children and their parents. Dr. Anderson’s research has appeared in Communication Research Reports, Communication Studies, and Cyber-Psychology and Behavior.

International Connections
Dr. Anderson has studied Czech, earned certification in Teaching English as a Second Language, and taught advanced English at the University of West Bohemia’s International Summer Language School in Plzen, Czech Republic.

Other
Dr. Anderson is currently working on integrating participation in virtual worlds, such as Second Life, into her classes.

Jeff Bineham

Office number: Riverview 217A
Phone number:    (320) 308-3253
E-mail address: bineham@stcloudstate.edu
Website:  http://web.stcloudstate.edu/jbineham/

Degrees held and granting institutions
B.A. from George Fox College, Newberg, OR, 1980
M.A. from Purdue University, 1983
Ph.D. from Purdue University, 1986

Primary and/or current research interests
Jeff's writing and teaching is informed by two basic questions. First, how does communication create reality for people? And second, how can students best learn to have a voice in the creation and management of their worlds? His specific research interests are in philosophy of communication, especially the connections between communication and philosophical hermeneutics, and in rhetorical theory and criticism, especially the analysis of religious and political discourse in popular culture.

International Connections
Jeff has traveled in Europe, Central America, and Africa.  He taught in Alnwick, England, during the summer of 2001, and he directed the St. Cloud State University program in Alnwick during the fall of 2006.  He participated in St. Cloud State's Faculty Study Tour to South Africa during the spring of 2008.

Wendy Bjorklund

Office number: Riverview 112A
Phone number:    (320) 308-1512
E-mail address:   wbjorklund@stcloudstate.edu

Degrees held and granting institutions
M.A. and Ph.D. in Communication Studies from the University of Minnesota.

Primary and/or current research interests
Wendy tends to study interpersonal conflict within an organizational context. Currently, she is looking at how framing relationships with other parties affects the way in which we engage in facework during a negotiation.

International Connections
Other than vacationing in the Caribbean and Mexico, and doing business in Canada, Wendy has not studied, taught or done research abroad. This could be why she is such a big proponent for our students to study abroad.

Christopher Collins

Office number:Riverview 112B
Phone number:    (320) 308-2273
E-mail address:cccollins@stcloudstate.edu

Degrees held and granting institutions
B.A. West Texas A & M University
M.A. Miami University of Ohio
Ph.D. Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

Primary and/or current research interests
Performance studies, spoken word poetry, language theory, the prison industrial complex

Bassey A. Eyo

Office number: Riverview 208A
Phone number:    (320) 308-3033
E-mail address: baeyo@stcloudstate.edu

Degrees held and granting institutions
B.A. – 1978, University of Wisconsin - Steven’s Point
M.A. – 1980, University of Wisconsin - Steven’s Point
Ph.D. – 1985, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Primary and/or current research interests

1. Holistic – Relational Leadership Praxis
2. Communication and Relational Wisdom for the New World of Work

International Connections

1. Nigeria Universities Network: enhancing capacity in library collections/acquisitions
2. Nigeria Universities Network: curriculum development support for communication education

Other
Dr. Eyo is the Career Advisor for the Communication Studies Department.

Bruce Hyde

Office number:   Riverview 203A
Phone number:   (320) 308-5162
E-mail address: rbruce@stcloudstate.edu

Degrees held and granting institutions
B.S. Northwestern
M.S. University of North Texas
Ph.D University of Southern California

Primary and/or current research interests

• Dialogue/nonpolarized and nonpolarizing discourse as a means for discussing problematic social issues
• Teaching acting for the Department of Theatre, Film Studies and Dance

International Connections
In 2007 directed the International Program in Alnwick, England

Debra Japp

Office number: Riverview 108A
Phone number:    (320) 308-3158
E-mail address:   dkjapp@stcloudstate.edu

Degrees held and granting institutions
B.A. 1979, M.A. 1986, Ph.D 1989 University of Nebraska at Lincoln

Marla Kanengieter

Office number:  Riverview 103A
Phone number:    (320) 308-4981
E-mail address:   mkanengieter@stcloudstate.edu

Degrees held and granting institutions
B.A. 1982 Colorado State University
M.S. 1987, Ph.D 1990 University of Oregon

Judith K.  Litterst

Office number: Riverview 210B
Phone number:    (320) 308-2291
E-mail address: jklitterst@stcloudstate.edu
Website: http://web.stcloudstate.edu/jklitterst

Degrees held and granting institutions
B.A. Central Michigan University
M.A. Bradley University
C.A.S. Northern Illinois University
Ph.D. University of Minnesota

Primary and/or current research interests
Judy's primary research areas are in (1) communication pedagogy, (2) communication and aging, and (3) nonverbal communication. Projects she is currently working on include: revising an educational (civic) engagement, redefining/re-conceptualizing elder care-giving, symbolic significance of the wearing of headscarves by Muslim women, and broadcaster nonverbal communication during the attack on the World Trade Center.

International Connections
Judy has taught on the Alnwick, England program twice and currently maintains research connections in the areas of nonverbal communication and communication and aging with colleagues at Anadolu University in Eskisehir, Turkey.

Other
Dr. Litterst is the CMST advisor for the Communication Arts and Literature B.S. teaching major.

Eddah Mutua-Kombo

Office number: Riverview 103B
Phone number:    (320) 308-4892 
E-mail address:  emmutuakombo@stcloudstate.edu

Degrees held and granting institutions
B.A. 1988, University of Nairobi
M.A. 1992, City University
Ph.D. 2000, University of Wales

Marge Pryately

Office number:     Riverview 216A
Phone number:     (320) 308-4980
E-mail address:   mjpryately@stcloudstate.edu

Degrees held and granting institutions
B.A. – Miami University, Oxford, OH (1975) – General Speech Communication
M.A. – Miami University, Oxford, OH (1976) – Organizational Communication
Ph. D – University of Oklahoma (1989) – Intercultural Communication

Primary and/or current research interests
Marge has studied service-learning in the U.S. and Japan. She has also developed training programs for graduate teaching assistants. Dr. Pryately is currently looking at comparative values systems in Japan and Great Britain and at the “Lost Generation” of first generation immigrants.

Other
Advisor for intercultural minors
Serves on the East Asian Studies Committee

Joanna K. Pucel

Office number:    Riverview 211B
Phone number:   (320) 308-2958
E-mail address: jkpucel@stcloudstate.edu

Degrees held and granting institutions
B.S. St. Cloud State University
M.A. University of Minnesota (Minneapolis)

Primary and/or current research interests
Research interests include: communication apprehension, organizational communication, and health communication—specifically in the area of cardiac care.

International Connections
Taught through the Center for International Studies: British Studies Program in Alnwick, England

Diana Rehling

Office number: Riverview 218
Phone number:    (320) 308-1693
E-mail address: dlrehling@stcloudstate.edu
Website: http://web.stcloudstate.edu/dlrehling/

Degrees held and granting institutions
B.A. - U of ND at Grand Forks
M.A. - U of Illinois at Champaign
Ph.D. - U of Nebraska at Lincoln

Primary and/or current research interests
Research interests include:  Civility in the Classroom and Listening

Jeff Ringer

Office number: Riverview 204A
Phone number:    (320) 308-5540
E-mail address: ringer@stcloudstate.edu

Degrees held and granting institutions
B.A. - Edinboro State University, 1979
M.A. - Fairfield University, 1984
Ph.D. - Ohio University, 1987

Primary and/or current research interests
Communication and Gay Men’s Intimate Partnerships
Cell Phone Use Among Japanese Students

International Connections
Jeff has conducted several study abroad programs in connection with Aalborg University in Denmark. He has taught English as a second language at Akita University for three years and taught the basic communication course at an international university in Japan for two years. Dr. Ringer also taught in Ingolstadt, Germany, spring 2007.

Other
Dr. Ringer is currently a mediator for the SCSU Campus Mediation Program and has developed a volunteer mediation program for students.

Roseanna Gaye Ross, Department Chair

Office number: Riverview 117B
Phone number:    (320) 308-2217
E-mail address: rgross@stcloudstate.edu

Degrees held and granting institutions
B.S.Ed, English with Speech and Theatre minor, Ohio University, Athens
M.A., Speech Communication, Ohio State University, Columbus
Ph.D., Communication Theory (interpersonal and small group emphasis), related areas of study in community counseling and higher education, Ohio University, Athens

Primary research/study interests
Conflict management and mediation, experiential learning theory, internships, study abroad, professional and organizational development in higher education, mentoring (in both the profit and nonprofit sectors), story telling, applied organizational communication.

International Connections
Previous experience in teaching, studying, and/or managing programs abroad in the following countries: Japan, England, Denmark, and Kenya. Conducted research in conflict management in England and Denmark; developed coursework addressing communication and relationship development in Japan. Collected traditional stories in all of these countries, as well as in Ireland and Great Britain.

Collette Rubel

Office number: Riverview 216B
Phone number:    (320) 308-2903 
E-mail address:   csrubel@stcloudstate.edu

Degrees held and granting institutions
B.A. - Speech Communication and Applied Psychology, St. Cloud State University
M.A. - Speech Communication, Training and Human Resource Management, St. Cloud State University

Primary research/study interests
Having worked as a human resources professional for the past 10 years, Collette's interest area is organizational communication with an emphasis in organizational development and training. Past research has focused on the influence of organizational storytelling on the new hire orientation process and interest in mediation and conflict resolution in the workplace.

International Connections
While completing an undergraduate degree at St. Cloud State University, Collette spent 6 months studying abroad on the Alnwick program in England and traveling throughout Europe.  Growing up, she spent time living in both Denmark and England.

Other
Volunteer at the St. Cloud Hospital, Stride Academy, and local high schools conducting mock job interviews with students in speech classes.

Pam Secklin

Office number: Riverview 111A
Phone number:    (320) 308-5193  
E-mail address:   plsecklin@stcloudstate.edu

Degrees held and granting institutions: 
B.A. Northern Michigan University 1986
M.A. University of South Florida 1988 
Ph.D. Purdue University 1995

Primary and/or current research interests:
Interpersonal and Health Communication, the study of intimate relationships across various contexts. Research and publication interests in ethnographic, auto-ethnographic, and narrative modes of inquiry. Courses frequently taught at SCSU: Interpersonal Communication; Special Topics in The Dark Side of Close Relationships; Health Communication; Family Communication.

Other
Dr. Secklin is the Graduate Advisor for the Communication Studies Department.

Jennifer Anderson Senchea

Office number:   Riverview 110
Phone number:   (320) 308-3230
E-mail address:  jasenchea@stcloudstate.edu

Degrees held and granting institutions:
B.A. (Speech Communication) - California State Univ., Bakersfield - 1989
M.A. (Speech Communication) - Miami Univ., Oxford, Ohio - 1990
Ph.D. (Interpersonal Communication) - Univ. of Iowa - 1998

Primary and/or current research interests: 
The social construction and performance of gender; the 'bureaucratization' of marriage in U.S. immigration policy; pedagogical techniques in communication studies courses; student perceptions of academically dishonest practices.

International Connections:
Dr. Senchea is currently a member of an interdisciplinary research team investigating student perceptions of academic dishonesty in central European, post-communist countries. The team is currently collecting data in Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, and Russia .

Eric Short

Office number:  Riverview 213B
Phone number: 308-5279
E-mail address: ejshort@stcloudstate.edu

Degrees held and granting institutions
M.A. Communication Studies, University of Northern Iowa
B.A. Communication Studies, University of Northern Iowa

Primary and/or current research interests
I am currently interested in research about visual argument, metaphors and oppositional rhetoric. This research has taken me to analyze political zines, comics, and even rhetoric surrounding 9/11.

Tami Spry

Office number: Riverview 104A
Phone number:    (320) 308-5253
E-mail address: tlspry@stcloudstate.edu

Degrees held and granting institutions
B.S. - 1982, Eastern Michigan University
M.A. - 1987, Eastern Michigan University
Ph.D. - 1991 Southern Illinois University at Carbondale

Primary and/or current research interests
Tami teaches courses in performance studies and communication theory.  Dr. Spry performs her autobiographical and autoethnographic work around the country, focusing on issues of gender violence, mental illness, race relationships, shamanic healing, and loss.  Tami is currently working on a book, Paper and Skin: Writing and Performing the Autoethnographic Life. Her publications appear in Text and Performance Quarterly, Qualitative Inquiry, and Women and Language as well as chapters in various anthologies, most recently in Voices Made Flesh: Women and Autobiography.  

International Connections
Dr. Spry was invited to Fitzwilliam College at Cambridge University in England to present research on performative autoethnography, 2007.  Tami is on the Editorial Board for the International Journal of Qualitative Research.  Dr. Spry will be teaching in Alnwick, England Fall of 2009.

Other
Director of Players Performance Group

Suzanne Stangl-Erkens

Office number:  Riverview 213A
Phone number:  (320) 308-2208
E-mail address: erkens@stcloudstate.edu

Degrees held and granting institutions
B.A. 1986, Central College
M.A. 1988, University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Primary and/or current research interests
Suzanne is interested in the research of language as a social creation; the influence of language on thought and action; and how special interest groups manipulate language to portray their worldviews. She is also interested in pedagogical research.

Renee Strom

Office number: Riverview G12B
Phone number:    (320) 308-1291 
E-mail address:   restrom@stcloudstate.edu

Degrees held and granting institutions
B.A. 2000, Secondary Education with subject endorsements in English and Speech Communication, Wayne State College
M.A. 2003, Communication, Michigan State University
Ph.D. 2006, Communication, Michigan State University

Primary and/or current research interests
Dr. Strom is interested in studying how family communication processes affect educational attainment.  She is also interested in instructional communication.

Paula S. Tompkins

Office number: Riverview 211A
Phone number:    (320) 308-4982
E-mail address: pstompkins@stcloudstate.edu
Website: web.stcloudstate.edu/pstompkins

Degrees held and granting institutions
B.A. 1978 (English), University of Kansas
M.A. 1980 (Speech Communication and Human Relations)
Ph.D. 1987 (Speech-Communication) University of Minnesota—Twin Cities

Primary and/or current research interests
The questions Paula finds interesting to study are questions of communication ethics in our public or rhetorical communication. Most recently she has been looking at issues of justice, civility, and integrity in our public discourse.

International Connections
Taught in the SCSU British Studies program in Alnwick, England

Other
In Paula's other lives outside of academia she likes to read science fiction and spend time in the "current” Middle Ages.

David Tschida

Office number:    Riverview 203B
Phone number:   (320) 308-1254
E-mail address: datschida@stcloudstate.edu

Degrees held and granting institutions
B.A. - 1994, St. Cloud State University
M.A. - 1996 University of Nebraska
Ph.D. - 2004 University of Missouri

Primary and/or current research interests
David's primary teaching and research interests are in critical or rhetorical studies of the media (primarily television) and in communication in environmental issues. Recent topics of interest include the representation of the environment in television programming/documentaries, the representation of the environment in national park publications and websites, and on political content in entertainment television.

Other
Co-advisor of Comm. Club

Jennifer Tuder

Office number: Riverview 107B
Phone number:     (320) 308-3125
E-mail address: jltuder@stcloudstate.edu

Degrees held and granting institutions:
B.A. - 1996, Theatre; University of Northern Iowa
M.A. - 1998, Communication Studies; Arizona State University
Ph.D. - 2002, Speech Communication with Performance Studies Emphasis; Southern Illinois University

Primary and/or current research interests
Interest in performance as a way of knowing the world (performance methodology), the performance of grieving and loss, performance art and artists, performative writing, and performance of identity

Other
Co-director of the Players Performance Group

Erika Vora

Office number:
Phone number: Riverview210A
(320) 308-3240
E-mail address: ewvora@stcloudstate.edu

Degrees held and granting institutions
M.A. University of Bridgeport
M.S. University of Bridgeport
Ph.D. State University of New York at Buffalo

Primary and/or current research interests
Dr. Vora’s primary research interests include reducing prejudice, the nonviolent conflict management approaches of Mahatma Gandhi and of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, intercultural listening, and intercultural marriage.

She is currently writing a book entitled, “Daughters of the Fatherland”. It is based on the experiences of German women who had to flee from their homes during World War II. Erika has just finished writing "A Contingency Framework for Listening to the Dying" (with Ariana Vora, Harvard University). The Journal of International Listening, Volume 22, No.1, 2008.

International Connections
Dr. Vora was a Fulbright Scholar in Taiwan, Republic of China, and visiting professor in South Africa, People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, India and Australia. She has frequently directed international studies programs in Germany.

Other
Dr. Vora was a President of the Fulbright Association, Minnesota Chapter. She is the advisor to the International Students Association.

Matthew Vorell

Office number:  Riverview 208B
Phone number:  (320) 308-1257     
E-mail address:   msvorell@stcloudstate.edu     

Degrees held and granting institutions
B.A. Miami University
M.A. Miami University
Ph.D. University of Colorado at Boulder

Primary and/or current research interests
Dr. Vorell is interested in issues related to organizational communication.  In particular, he seeks to understand how temporary workers make sense of their attachment to the work.  He is also interested in questions of technology and how organizational culture can be used to further the green movement. 

International Connections
Matt has traveled extensively abroad.  Specifically, he has done research and studied Spanish in Mexico at the University of the Americas.  Likewise, he has studied international business in Japan and South Korea.  He has traveled throughout Europe, visiting Great Britain, France, Switzerland, Germany, Lichtenstein, Italy and Greece. 

He has also had over 10 years of formal education in Spanish.

Other
Matt has a passion for media dabbling in anything supernatural, from the spiritual to the fantasy.  

Dave Warne

Office number:  Riverview 109
Phone number:  (320) 308-5415
E-mail address:  dlwarne@stcloudstate.edu
Website: Warne Class Page
Website is used for class syllabus distribution and is not a personal but more of a professional web space.

Degrees held and granting institutions:
B.A. 1981, Dakota State College
M.A. 1988, South Dakota State University
Currently enrolled at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Organizational Leadership Program

Primary and/or current research interests:
Current interests include those topics explored in Saint Mary's coursework. Currently, studying organizational change in higher education institutions and faculty action (and perhaps more importantly reaction) prompted by the institutional assessment processes.

International Connections:
Not currently involved professionally with any formal international programs. Connections are personal friends and academic colleagues from a variety of locations representing many provocative perspectives.

Scott Wells

Office number: Riverview 101
Phone number:    (320) 308-3000
E-mail address: sdwells@stcloudstate.edu

Degrees held and granting institutions
B.A. 1993, M.A. 1995, Wichita State University
Ph.D. 2001, University of Oklahoma-Norman

Primary and/or current research interests
Civic engagement, service-learning, campaign strategy, grassroots political communication, speechwriting, forensics pedagogy

Other
Dr. Wells also serves as Director of SCSU Speech & Debate (Forensics). To learn more about forensics, visit http://studentorg.stcloudstate.edu/forensics/forensics.html.

Frequently Taught Courses
CMST 192 Introduction to Communication
CMST 211 Public Speaking
CMST 213 Small Group Communication
CMST 323 Speechwriting.

Selected Recent Publications

• Spiker, J. A., Lin, Y., & Wells, S. D. (2003). The voice of young citizens: A study of political malaise in Campaign 2000. Edited by L. L. Kaid, J. C. Tedesco, & M. S. McKinney in The Millennium Election: Communication in the 2000 Campaign. New York, NY: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
• Allen, M., Bourhis, J., Mabry, E., Emmers-Sommer, T., Titsworth, S., Burrell, N., Mattrey, M., Crowell, T., Bakkar, A., Hamilton, A., Malyshev, Y., Robertson, T., Scholl, J., & Wells, S. (2001, Fall). Meta-analysis comparing student satisfaction with distance education and traditional classrooms: A preliminary analysis. Journal of Distance Education
• Hall, T., Brown, K., Ferguson, M., Hughes, K., Wells, S., & Zuckerman, D. (2001). Communication and Sharing--An Introduction to Speech Communication: Student Workbook. Carrollton, TX: Alliance Press.
• Robertson, T., Froemling, K., Wells, S., & McGraw, S. (2000, Summer). Sex, lies and videotapes: An analysis of gender in campaign advertisements. Communication Quarterly, 47 (3), 333-341.

Dan Wildeson

Office number:  Riverview 107A
Phone number:    (320) 308-4868
E-mail address:  dlwildeson@stcloudstate.edu

Degrees held and granting institutions:
B.A. - 1976, Biola University
M.A. - 1984, Colorado State University
Ph.D. - 1990, University of Oregon

Primary and/or current research interests: 
Interest area that informs teaching and research is rhetorical studies with respect to the following topics: ethics, language, argumentation, and communication problematics

International Connections: 
Taught for two years at Akita National University, Akita, Japan; a semester at the International College of Beijing, Beijing, China, in their joint program with the University of Colorado at Denver. In addition lived and traveled in 17 countries.

Staff

Diana Leither

Office number:  Riverview 117
Phone number: (320) 308-3210
E-mail address: dcleither@stcloudstate.edu
Website: http://web.stcloudstate.edu/dcleither/

Hobbies/Interests/Other information
Academic assistant for the department. Assisting the chairperson in preparing the semester course schedules and assisting professors with classroom and professional materials. Outside interests include girl scout troop leader.

Nancy Michael

Office number:  Riverview 117
Phone number:   (320) 308-2216
E-mail address: nkmichael@stcloudstate.edu

Hobbies/Interests/Other information
Serves as the Administrative Assistant to the Communication Studies Department; the department chair, faculty, committees, students and the general public. Manages the department budget, administrative materials, class enrollment figures, and numerous reports.