Communication Studies

Department of Communication Studies faculty members Martin Remland and Anita Foeman, along with former adjunct faculty member Dolores Arevalo Rafter and Temple University professor Tricia Jones, are pleased to announce they have signed a contract to publish a new textbook on intercultural communication. Wadsworth, a leading publisher of communication textbooks, will publish the book, which is scheduled for publication in late 2011. The working title is Intercultural Communication in the 21st Century: A Peacebuilding Perspective.

The textbook introduces a peacebuilding model of intercultural communication, incorporating knowledge of fundamental peacebuilding processes, such as conflict transformation, intergroup contact, and intercultural dialogue, and the most current theory and research on cultural identity and cultural differences in worldviews, emotions, and communication to arrive at a better understanding of how intercultural communication competence contributes to the peacebuilding enterprise in our homes, schools, workplaces, neighborhoods, virtual communities, and travels abroad.

Photos from the Department of Communication Studies Spring 2009 Reception are available for viewing on the department's Facebook Photo Gallery page. If you attended the reception, and you're a member of Facebook, please consider tagging yourself in the photos. Click the picture below to visit the gallery...

View photos from our Spring 2009 Reception

You don't have to be a member of the Facebook community to view the photos, but if you are, please consider becoming a "fan" of our department's Facebook page. Anyone can become a "fan" of our department's Facebook page, including parents, students, alumni and other interested individuals. If you are a member of the West Chester Facebook network, you may also join our department's Facebook group. Links to both our Facebook page and Facebook group can be found on the right sidebar of this page (under "Social Networks").

Lambda Pi Eta, the Communication Studies Honor Society (Gamma Tau chapter) has been honored with the 2008-2009 Most Improved Student Organization Award. Presented annually by the Office of Student Leadership and Involvement, this award recognizes the club or organization that has made significant strides towards achieving its goals. The awards competition is open to over 220 campus organizations and groups at West Chester University.

Nathan Kutz, Ashley L. Miller, Colleen Murphy, and Katie Polyak hold West Chester University's Most Improved Student Organization award.

Lambda Pi Eta (LPH) would like to recognize the tremendous commitment and outstanding achievement of the 08-09 Executive Board, Chairpersons, and all LPH members who collectively made this award a reality. Those people who were the forefront of revitalizing the organization during the past two years include Ashley L. Miller, Colleen Murphy, Nathan Kutz, Michael DeSumma, Tiffany Thornton, Ashley Tressler, Jessica Madeira, Jennifer Padron, Erin McVay, Courtney Conigliaro, Elizabeth Van Osten, Kristen Fulmer, Erinn Carey, Allison Brochet, and advisor Dr. Ola Kopacz. As a result of their combined efforts, membership increased by more than 200 percent, seven new committees were formed, and all of LPH’s goals were either met or exceeded.

The WCU forensics team won two team honors at the State championship tournament this past weekend at Cedar Crest College. The team won Second Place in President’s Sweepstakes (small team division) and also won Sixth Place in Open Sweepstakes. The tournament was won by St. Joseph’s University. WCU’s team finished ahead of other local teams from the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University.

Professor Hickman stands behind forensic team winners
Cass Lowry, Sara Franklin and Amber Loiselle.

WCU was represented by Sara Franklin, a sophomore communication studies major from Mechanicsburg, who advanced to the championship round in Prose Interpretation and took Sixth Place honors; Amber Loiselle, a senior communication studies major from Scranton; and Cass Lowry, a sophomore Honors elementary education major from Phoenixville.

In addition to the team’s strong placing, at the business meeting Professor Mark Hickman was elected Executive Secretary of the Pennsylvania Forensic Association. Among other duties, Professor Hickman will be in charge of organizing and administering next year’s championship competition, which will be held at California University of Pennsylvania.