faculty | Department of Communication

News

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

2024-11-22

Mustafaj sits in front of a screen displaying films used in her 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

2024-11-13

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

2024-10-31

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...

Travis Dixon named David L. Swanson Professor of Communication

2024-10-18

Dixon poses with department and university leadership after being honored

In a ceremony hosted by the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, communication professor Travis Dixon was honored as the new David L. Swanson Professor of Communication.Dixon, whose research focuses on the prevalence and...

New book reveals Electoral College strategies in modern political era

2024-09-09

A new book co-written by a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign political scientist explores the road to the White House through three distinct eras of presidential campaigning. The book, “...

Leanne Knobloch wins mid-career award for scholarship

2024-09-05

Associate head Leanne Knobloch was awarded the Berscheid-Hatfield Award from the International Association for Relationship Research, an interdisciplinary organization that strives to promote advances in the scientific study of personal and social...

Emily Van Duyn receives named scholar position from the College of LAS

2024-08-05

Communication professor Emily Van Duyn was among 15 professors honored by the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences with a named scholar or professorship position. These positions recognize contributions to research and...

How do presidential candidates embody ideas about national identity, including views of Latinos?

2024-08-01

Professor Cisneros posing in front of some marble columns.

Professor J. David Cisneros spoke with the Illinois News Bureau's research editor Sharita Forrest about how political candidates in U.S. elections both court and disparage Latinx communities.

Greater understanding leading to greater opportunity

2024-06-10

Wang Cong taught English in China for six years before arriving at the University of Illinois, but when she arrived on campus Cong knew that communicating isn’t just about proper spelling and grammar but also a grasp of the cultural nuances around the language. She still had a lot to learn...

Marshall Scott Poole elected as fellow of American Association for the Advancement of Science

2024-04-18

Marshall Scott Poole, David L. Swanson Professor Emeritus of Communication, has been elected a 2023 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Poole was one of seven University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign professors elected. They are among the 502 scientists, engineers, and...