NDSU Department of Communication

Goodbye, December ... and 2025! 👋
Hello, January... and 2026! 🤘

#NDSU #NDSUCommunication #HappyNewYear

NDSU to offer new online certificate focused on AI NDSU will offer a new online human-factors in AI certificate next spring, teaching students and the public how AI works and why people interact with it the way they do.

Our own Dr. Dave Westerman was recently featured in an InForum article by NDSU alum and WDAY reporter Isak Dinesen about our new online Human Factors in AI certificate launching this spring.

www.inforum.com/news/fargo/n...

#NDSU #NDSUCommunication #AIInCommunication

Emmanuel Dadzie wearing glasses and a teal sweater, smiling while sitting in an office. Behind him is a bookshelf filled with books and folders, and sunlight is coming through a nearby window.

We have exciting news to share! 🎉

Ph.D. candidate Emmanuel Dadzie will receive the Top Student Paper Award from the Environmental Communication Division at this year’s National Communication Association (NCA) conference! 💚💛

#NDSU #NDSUCommunication #PhDInCommunication #NCA25

Welcome to the (Email) Machine: A Study of Chronemics and Source Cues in Managerial Communication - David Westerman, Justin Walden, 2025 This study assesses the potential use of artificial intelligence-programmed managers in the workplace through two experiments that manipulated source cues and t...

ICYMI: Drs. David Westerman & Justin Walden published an article in Business and Professional Communication Quarterly. Their study assessed the potential use of AI-programmed managers in the workplace through two experiments that manipulated source and time cues.

#NDSU #NDSUCommunication

30-40 people sitting on amphitheater steps with a gloomy sky and green trees in the background

🍦💛 A huge thank you to everyone who came to our annual Ice Cream Social on Monday!

It was great to connect with students and spend time together as a department.

#NDSU #NDSUCommunication #StrategicCommunication #ManagementCommunication #Journalism #AgriculturalCommunication

Headshot of Dr. Emily Zhan

We’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Emily Zhan to the department. 🤩 Dr. Zhan is excited to bring her media industry experience and research on AI and into the classroom. If you see her around Minard 338, don't hesitate to introduce yourself!

#NDSU #NDSUCommunication #StrategicCommunication #Journalism

A group of students sitting on a stairs

Meet the bright minds that will change the world! Last week, Dr. Beck welcomed our incoming freshmen to the dept. We can't wait to celebrate their successes over the next four years!

#NDSU #NDSUCommunication #StrategicCommunication #ManagementCommunication #Journalism #AgriculturalCommunication

A group of people standing in front of the NDSU Bison

✨ Faculty & Students Reunite! ✨

We had a fantastic time yesterday at this year’s Meet & Greet, an annual event where faculty connect with both new and returning graduate students.

📚 Welcome back! Let’s make this year unforgettable!

#NDSU #NDSUCommunication #PhDInCommunication #MAInCommunication

Good to see a "language job" in a communications school! Open TT/T faculty position in Language, Interaction, and Interpersonal Communication at Rutgers School of Communication & Information: jobs.rutgers.edu/postings/258... #jobs #AcademicSky #languages

Resonance | University of California Press

Resonance (UC Press) is looking for humanities research across the following topics: Sound in Political Crisis, Sound and Social Justice, Experiments in Sound, Sound Archives and Preservation, and we're convening a permanent series that'll examine "Film and Cinema Sound" in 2026. Please circulate!

Dr. Ian Berry in a hockey jersey, holding a hockey stick

Welcome Dr. Ian Berry!

With a passion for semiotics, advertising, and education, Dr. Berry is committed to empowering both undergrad and grad students. When he's not in the classroom, you can find him lacing up his skates for hockey tournaments! 🏒

#NDSU #NDSUCommunication #StrategicCommunication

Wishek native, KFGO News reporter and family purchase two North Dakota newspapers FARGO (KFGO) - The south-central North Dakota newspapers that had been owned and operated by Tony Bender for n...

🎓 Congratulations to our graduate, Ryan Janke, and his wife Tabitha! 🎉

Ryan and Tabitha have officially purchased two local newspapers in North Dakota! Their commitment to journalism and local storytelling is truly inspiring.

#NDSU #NDSUCommunication #Journalism

From left to right: Dr. Dave Westerman, Dr. Lisa Arnold, MA graduate Mahmuda Rahman, and Dr. Zoltan Majdik, all smiling and giving a thumbs up, standing in front of a white board.

Last week, Mahmuda Rahman successfully defended her thesis, “Investigating Knowledge-Prompt AI-Assisted Persuasive Writing. Her advisor was Dr. Dave Westerman. Drs. Zoltan Majdik and Lisa Arnold (English) were on her committee.

Congrats, Mahmuda! 🎉

#NDSU #NDSUCommunication #MAInCommunication

From left to right: Dr. Cheng Zeng, Dr. Stephenson Beck, MA graduate Ashlyn Schauer, and Dr. Kate Tulibaski, standing the Department of Communication's offices

On Wednesday, Ashlyn Schauer successfully defended her thesis, which explored intrinsic motivation and job involvement in nonprofits. A fun finding: nonprofit employees don't mind challenges if they also lead to growth!

#NDSU #NDSUCommunication #MAInCommunication

A Zoom screen: Dr. David Westerman giving a double thumbs up in the top left quadrant, Dr. Melissa Vosen Callens smiling in the top right quadrant, Dr. Lisa Arnold smiling in the bottom left quadrant, and Gbemisola Odejide in the bottom right quadrant, also smiling.

Congratulations to Gbemisola Odejide!

Gbemisola successfully passed her oral exam defense last week and is our newest MA graduate!

Her advisor was Dr. Dave Westerman. Drs. Melissa Vosen Callens and Lisa Arnold (English) were also on her committee.

#NDSU #NDSUCommunication #MAInCommunication

Professional headshot of Dr. Cat Kingsley Westerman

Congratulations to Dr. Cat Kingsley Westerman!

Dr. Kingsley Westerman won the Paul Juell Mentoring Award for the College of Arts and Sciences.

#NDSU #NDSUCommunication

Xyle Altura standing in front of a banner that says "Saddle Up! American Advertising Awards"

Congrats to strategic communication student Xyle Altura for winning two Silver Addy Awards last month from our regional American Advertising Federation. One award was for still photography and one award was for cinematography.

#NDSU #NDSUCommunication #StrategicCommunication #AddyAwards #AAFND

a pixel art of mario standing on top of a gold block with a question mark on it Alt: A pixel art of Mario standing on top of a gold block with a question mark on it.

I'm co-editing a Special Issue for Critical Studies in Media Communication on "Games & Storage" 📦

Guided by Zoe Sofia’s articulation of “container technologies” and how systems of storage are never neutral! Let's unlid Game Studies!

Full CFP in 🧵👇Abstracts due April 22! Full drafts by June!

Emmanuel Mylo Dadzie, wearing a white dress shirt, holding an award certificate

We have more good news to share! 🎉 PhD student Emmanuel Mylo Dadzie was awarded the J. Jeffery Auer Award for Top Student Paper (co-authored w/ Beatrice Quarm, Michigan Technological U) in the Political Communication Division at CSCA.

#NDSU #NDSUCommunication #PhDInCommunication #CSCA25 #CommSky

Two men holding three award certificates

Congrats to Drs. David Westerman and his co-authors Kyle R. Vareberg (Northeastern State University) and Stephanie Kelly (North Carolina A&T State University) for receiving the ComBotLabs Award from the Communication & Technology Interest Group at CSCA! #NDSU #NDSUCommunication #CommSky #CSCA25

Four pic collage: Two students standing outside the TV studio (top left), a guest speaker talking to students (top right), a five person speech team (bottom left), and a student standing in front of banner that reads "American Advertising Awards"

March 2025 was filled with so many great moments for our students. Here’s to more in April!! 🌷

#NDSU #NDSUCommunication #StrategicCommunication #ManagementCommunication #Journalism #AgriculturalCommunication #March2025

A picture of icicles hanging off a building

Jack Dura, a graduate of our Journalism program, is a North Dakota correspondent for the Associated Press. While he normally contributes written content, in February, one of his pics was included in AP's Week in Pictures.

#NDSU #NDSUCommunication #Journalism #APWeekInPictures

Headshot of Bukola Oloba

Congratulations to PhD student Bukola Oloba and Dr. Anne Blankenship, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, on their recent publication, "Gender Dynamics in Online Religious Leadership in Nigeria” in Religions: www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16....

#NDSU #NDSUCommunication #PhDInCommunication

Review of applications begins April 1!

Yellow text on a green background reads: Assistant Professor of Communication; Join Our Team, Link in Bio to Apply; in addition to the text, a picture of students looking at a monitor is on the graphic

Tenure-track job opening! 🚨 Link in bio!

We're searching for a colleague to teach students in the areas of multimedia, broadcast, and/or strat communication. The teaching load is 2/2; candidate must maintain an active research agenda.

#NDSU #NDSUCommunication #StrategicCommunication #AcademicSky

A black and white picture of an attic; the text reads: Stories from the Attic. A list of photographers is listed on the right hand side of the pic; on the bottom, the text reads, "Spirit Room, 111 Broadway N, Fargo, ND, March 15-April 15, Reception Friday March 21, 5-7pm

Dr. Ross Collins is participating in a group photography show at the Spirit Room in downtown Fargo. "Stories from the Attic" features work from area photographers from early in their careers. The show runs from March 15 - April 15.

#NDSU #NDSUCommunication #Photography #DowntownFargo