News

HCOM program celebrates 15 years

Fifteen years ago, online education was not only uncommon but often lacked credibility. Those looking for leadership roles in the health care industry often pursued master’s degrees in public health or business.But in 2009, then-department head Dale Brashers saw an opportunity to provide those...

Digital divides harmed the nonprofit sector during the COVID-19 pandemic

 Many humanitarian organizations in the U.S. experienced multiple digital divides that disrupted routine operations and compromised their services to vulnerable refugee populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. These challenges not only elevated refugees’ health risks, they also jeopardized...

Charee Thompson named University Scholar

Communication professor Charee Thompson was one of five professors at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to be named University Scholars in recognition of their achievements in teaching, scholarship, and service.The program honors faculty excellence and provides $15,000 to each scholar for...

Connection offline: real-world conversation in a digital age

It’s not always easy to strike up a conversation with strangers, especially after years of remote classes and increasingly digital communication.That’s why communication professor Lisa Guntzviller gives students the chance to practice their conversation skills in a real-world setting in her...

Empowering Voices: University of Illinois launches new Speakers Workshop

By leveraging the Department of Communication’s expertise, the University of Illinois’ new Speakers Workshop is furthering the university’s mission of producing graduates who exemplify professionalism, authenticity, and leadership. The director of the workshop,...

How did President Trump’s inaugural address stack up to previous speeches?

John M. Murphy, a professor of communication at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, studies the history of American public address and political rhetoric. Murphy spoke with News Bureau research editor Sharita Forrest about...

How can we peacefully talk politics with people who have differing views?

 Emily Van Duyn, a professor of communication at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, studies the effects of social, geographic, and political polarization...

Brilliant white male characters more believable, some viewers say in communication professor's study

Brilliant characters often play key roles in movies and TV shows. However, when these characters are played by women and people of color, some audience members dismiss them as unrealistic, even if they portray real people and events, a recent study found.University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign...

Afro-Latinidad in digital spaces and Hollywood reboots

For most academics, sabbatical is a crucial time to focus on your research and a break from teaching duties. For administrators it’s especially essential, because their duties often leave little time to devote to their scholarship. For Isabel Molina-­Guzmán, associate dean for student academic...

Communication with doctor during first visit affects pain patients’ outcomes

  Chronic pain — defined as daily or significant pain that lasts more than three months — can be complicated to diagnose and treat. Because chronic pain conditions are clouded with uncertainties, patients often struggle with anxiety and depression, and they and their doctors often find these...