Department of Communication Studies - St. Cloud State University

Soumia Bardhan

Office number: Riverview 208B
Phone number:    (320) 308-2291

Degrees held and granting institutions

Ph.D. - 2011, Communication, University of New Mexico; Emphasis: Rhetorical Communication; International Communication; New Media and Political Islam

MA - 2003, Communication, University of Madras; Emphasis: Mass Communication; Media, Semiotics, and Culture

BA - 2001, (Honours), University of Calcutta; Major: English Literature, Minor: Political Science, History

Primary and/or current research interests:

Soumia’s research in Islam and Communication follows two tracks. First, within the context of Islamic culture, socio-politics, and history, she explores the rhetorical and symbolic practices individuals and groups employ to create discourse/s and the implications of these dynamics and practices for social change and international/intercultural understanding. Second, she studies the developmental and democratic potential of new media technologies in transitioning and post-authoritarian Muslim societies. Specifically, the public-counterpublic communication dynamics in these societies and how new media technologies function as a communicative tool in this regard.

Other:

Postdoctoral Fellow, Division for Equity and Inclusion, University of New Mexico, 2012

Project: Formulating Best Practices in International Student Diversity at the University of New Mexico, a research-based endeavor to enhance the global/international diversity component of UNM’s institutional culture and its diverse educational setting.

2010 - 2012: Mediator, Albuquerque Metro Court, New Mexico

2011 - 2012: Civil Society Advisor and Communications Consultant, United Nations Association-USA, Albuquerque Chapter, New Mexico

Languages

• English, Hindi, Bengali
• Diploma Certification: French Language, levels I and II, Alliance Française de Madras, India
• Novice level: Modern Standard Arabic

International Connections:

Education- Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees earned in India

Teaching- Lecturer for the School of Media and Communication, University of Madras, June 2003 - June 2005

Research- Research Associate for the Southwest Institute on Religion and Civil Society

(SIRCS), University of New Mexico, October 2006-December 2009

Project: Web Access for Civil Society Initiatives (WACSI), a federally-funded project undertaken by SIRCS in collaboration with the Cooperative Monitoring Center, Amman (part of the Royal Scientific Society of Jordan), seeking to increase networking among non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in 4 Middle Eastern countries (Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Saudi Arabia), and enhance the ability of citizens in these countries to access independent sources of information.