Department of Communication at the University of Arkansas

05/28/2026

With AI companions and workers in greater demand, we're fortunate to have an incredible lab directed by Dr. Marco Dehnert as part of the Center for Communication Research. Learn more about his work with the AI and Robotics Connection (ARC) lab in the story below!

Marco Dehnert, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of communication and technology and director of the AI and Robots for Connection Lab in the Center for Communication Research.

05/12/2026

Congrats to Mayor Molly Rawn on being a 2026 recipient of the department's Outstanding Alumni Award! Mayor Rawn graduated with a degree in Communication in 2008. Her career began as the Director of Development at the Northwest Arkansas Women’s Shelter. From 2010-2013, she worked in concurrent roles at the University of Arkansas as the Fulbright College Associate Director of Development and at KUAF Public Radio, where she was the Director of Major Gifts and Membership. She then served as the CEO of Experience Fayetteville where she was responsible for a $6.1 million dollar budget. In 2025, she was sworn in as the Mayor of Fayetteville and has the distinct honor of being the first woman elected to this position. During her time in office, Mayor Rawn has emphasized managed growth, accessible housing, and the essential role of modernized infrastructure in shaping a thriving community. Thanks for your service to the Fayetteville community and for showing our students that there really is no limit to what you can achieve with a COMM degree!

05/11/2026

Congrats to Jennifer "JJ" Davis on being a 2026 recipient of the department's Outstanding Alumni Award! After graduating with a degree in Communication in 1993, Davis began her career as a correspondence secretary in the Arkansas Governor’s Office and has since worked her way up through various leadership positions at Dell Technologies, where she currently serves as Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs. Beyond her career success, Davis stands out for her commitment to supporting students at the U of A. Despite her busy schedule, Davis consistently makes time to return to campus to speak with our COMM majors, offering advice and mentorship. Thanks to Davis for being a shining example of what one can achieve with a degree in Communication and for giving back to our COMMunity!

05/08/2026

It's graduation day!! Let's give a big round of applause for all of our graduating seniors, and especially for our 2026 Athens Scholars. To be recognized as an Athens Scholar, a student must be a graduating senior Communication major who has maintained at least a 3.75 cumulative GPA at the University of Arkansas. It is the highest honor we give! Congrats!👏👏👏

05/07/2026

Congratulations to Kaleb Turner on being the 2026 recipient of the department's Early Career Alumni Award! After graduating from our M.A. program in 2021, the U of A named Turner's thesis the Outstanding Master’s Thesis for Humanities and Fine Arts and the National Communication Association's M.A. Education Section recognized his work with the Outstanding Qualitative Master's Thesis Award. Turner has also succeeded professionally in the years following graduation. After serving as Assistant Director of Communications, he was promoted to Chief of Staff in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences in 2024. Within this role, Turner provides professional, confidential, and strategic support to the Dean and serves as the administrative liaison between the Dean, the campus, and the community. We couldn't be prouder of all you have accomplished!

05/06/2026

This spring, we recognized nine faculty members who have a collective total of 95 years of service to the department. Full-time faculty and staff are recognized at each 5-year mark. Thanks to the following department members for their dedication:
🏆 Five Years: Veronica Mobley
🏆 Ten Years: Margaret Butcher, Lauren Lambert, John Wayne Morris, Meredith Neville-Shepard, Ryan Neville-Shepard, Matthew Spialek, and Hannah Suggs
🏆 Twenty Years: Kasey Walker

05/05/2026

The department's High-Impact Practice Opportunity Fund (or the HIPO fund) helps provide transformative experiences for our 900+ majors. Each semester, students may apply for financial assistance to support endeavors like research and conference travel. This semester's recipients were Trinity Barnes, Grant Schol, and Apurva Grover! All three of these second-year M.A. students were awarded funds to support their exit project research. Way to go!

05/05/2026

Let's give a round of applause for our graduate student award winners!
🏆 Top Graduate Student Researcher: Sean Bloemetjie
🏆 Excellence in Civic Engagement: Samala Ajala and Tucker McBane
🏆 Top Teaching Assistant: Alassandra Holsted and Morgan Giroir

05/04/2026

Congrats to Paula Ihms on being this year's recipient of the department's Teaching Excellence Award! Ihms is retiring from teaching this semester after serving as a lecturer in Communication for the past decade. Ihms is known for bringing her professional experience in leadership and organizational development to the classroom. Thanks for all you have done to serve our students! 🎉

05/02/2026

We have spent the last weeks of the semester celebrating the career of Dr. Margaret Butcher! Dr. Butcher is an award-winning Teaching Associate Professor who is retiring after ten years of service at the U of A and 41 years as an educator! Thanks for all you have done for the department and for our students!