CCI Faculty, Students Participate at National Communication Association Convention

Several College of Communication and Information faculty and graduate students are participating in the National Communication Association’s 108th Annual Convention this week by presenting papers, sitting on panels, and much more. Besides opportunities to expand professional development and learning, the convention also provides a chance for attendees to connect with other academics in the communication fields as well as with CCI alumni, said School of Communication Studies Associate Professor Michelle Violanti.

Violanti has a whole roster of events in which she will be participating and presenting, including a special presentation centering on one of her passions: accessibility. This presentation, “Excerpts of Seizing, an Accessible Performance of Living with Seizures,” which is part of the convention’s “The Accessible Panel Project: Exploring and Practicing Possibilities,” will be live-streamed for all viewers, Violanti said.

Accessibility is really important to me and has been for a long time. I’ve been arguing for a long time at NCA that we’re not very accessible for people who have any kinds of visible or invisible differences, so this presentation and the bullying ones are near and dear to my heart,” she said. “The other reason I got NCA is because so many of our former graduate students go, and it’s a great opportunity to connect back with them and to connect with future students.”

Here’s an overview of those from CCI who are participating in this year’s convention:

School of Communication Studies

Assistant Professor Quinten Bernhold
Victoria Bertram, PhD student
William Deverell, PhD student
Sarah Devereaux, PhD student
Assistant Professor Jenny Crowley
Assistant Professor Jessica Frampton
Associate Professor John Haas
Kylie Julius, graduate student
Associate Professor Michael Kotowski
Associate Professor Laura Miller
Associate Professor Emily Paskewitz
Cassandra Ray, PhD student
Professor Joan Rentsch 
Associate Professor Roth Smith
Professor Michelle T. Violanti

School of Journalism and Electronic Media

Associate Professor Guy Harrison

Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations

Associate Professor Michael Palenchar
Assistant Professor Xu Sifan

Doctoral student Carla White