Communication Studies-UT Austin

08/25/2026

CMS isn’t just for your career… it shows up in your everyday life too. What’s one thing you’ve started doing differently or hope to learn this semester? 🤔

08/19/2026

This summer, over 200 students attended the UT National Institute in Forensics (UTNIF) summer camp in speech and debate. 🗣️

More than 50 students participated in the speech area, where they prepared for their upcoming competition seasons through the Interpretation Lab, Public Address Lab, and Limited Preparation Lab. On the last day of camp, 6 students performed in the showcase to celebrate their work.

In the debate area, students learned the fundamentals of public speaking and competition procedures, and researched and prepared arguments to build proposition and opposition cases for a prepared motion. They finished camp with mock competitions and tournaments.

Great job, UTNIF! 🤘

08/13/2026

Guten tag! CMS takes on Germany! 🇩🇪

This summer, students in the SPICE program attended class at the University of Erfurt, one of the top media and communication studies departments in Germany. The program included excursions to museums, historic sites and around the city, and was centered on the theme of “Effective and Ethical Communication in the New Media Environment.”

Between classes, students traveled to other European countries, explored Erfurt, and more!🤘

08/13/2026

We are excited to welcome Brittany Wheeler, Ph.D. to the Communication Studies faculty! 🤘

Beginning this fall, we are expanding our research and teaching by adding four new tenure-track faculty and a full-time professional-track professor. These new faculty appointments will allow us to grow our research portfolio and further develop new curriculum for our students.

Read more: https://moody.utexas.edu/news/new-faculty-appointments-2026

07/31/2026

Congratulations to Interim Dean of the Moody College of Communication Anita Vangelisti on receiving the International Association for Relationship Research’s Distinguished Career Award at the 2026 IARR Conference in Glasgow, Scotland earlier this month!

The award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to research and theory in relationship science. Interim Dean Vangelisti's work has enriched the understanding of personal relationships and left a lasting impact on the field.

07/27/2026

Conflict resolution skills are for everyone!

During the spring semester, Professor Larry Schooler taught a conflict resolution course at Lockhart prison alongside Jeremy Carroll and Ralph Anderson, who assisted with teaching, and Kennedy Freyer, who helped with grading and administrative support.

Professor Schooler was able to attend the class's graduation, where one of his students shared a story about a conflict she had just experienced that day and how she had used what we discussed in class to work through it in a productive and de-escalatory way. He said it was “really meaningful to see how CMS could impact people like that.”

Great work, Professor Schooler, and to the rest of the faculty team (pictured)! 🤘

07/22/2026

Inspiring story of communication studies alum Kristen Christy using her communication skills to transform lives. 🤘

Kristen Christy, alumna and co-creator of the 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline, is turning loss into advocacy. Drawing on her lived experiences, she is using her strong communication skills to not only share her story, but to help reshape the narrative for others.

"A career is what you're paid for, a calling is what you're made for, and I get to combine the two."

Read more: https://moody.utexas.edu/news/kristen-christy-lifeline

07/16/2026

As flooding continues in the Texas hill country today, Communication Studies-UT Austin professor and disaster communication expert Keri Stephens urges community members to remain vigilant by turning on emergency alerts.

Stephens notes that people often underestimate the dangers of flash flooding and sometimes end up putting themselves at risk by trying to cross flooded roadways, only to be swept away in high water.

"We might think we're in control of water, but we are not. Water is going to do what water is going to do."

Listen to KVUE's full story here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Qf0KuKd_G0

07/15/2026

With heavy rains in Austin this week, Professor Keri K. Stephens spoke with KXAN and shared research findings to help people prepare for potential floods and stay safe.

“People underestimate the power of water.” - Keri Stephens.

See the full segment here:

As multiple rounds of heavy rain raise the threat of flash flooding across Texas this week, state officials and emergency preparedness experts are urging Texans to make plans before severe weather arrives. READ MORE: https://www.kxan.com/news/texas-politics/texans-urged-to-prepare-as-flood-threat-gr...