Department of Communication at the University of Arkansas

08/28/2026

The Department of Communication is hiring a Teaching Assistant Professor in the area of Film Studies! The successful candidate should have experience teaching introductory film studies courses, in addition to upper level courses in film criticism. The teaching load for this position is a 3/3. Apply by September 30, 2026 for full consideration. If you have any questions about the position, email the chair of the search Dr. Jake Dionne at [email protected].

Current University of Arkansas System employees, including student employees and graduate assistants, need to log in to Workday via MyApps.Microsoft.com, then access Find Jobs from the Workday search bar to view and apply for open positions. Students at all University of Arkansas institutions will v...

08/14/2026

The Department of Communication mourns the loss of Tom Frentz, who passed away on August 6, 2026. Frentz joined the department in 1985 and served as a nationally known researcher and teacher until his retirement in 2019. He taught courses in rhetorical theory, criticism, ethnographic methods, and science fiction film. He was a leading scholar in myth and narrative. Moreover, he served as President of the Southern States Communication Association and was widely recognized for his excellence in the field.

For more on the life of Frentz (in his own words), see the link below:

Read the obituary of Thomas S. Frentz from Fayetteville, AR. Leave your condolences and send flowers to the family to show you care.

07/30/2026

The Department of Communication is saddened to share that Jimmie Neal Rogers, a longtime professor of communication, passed away in early June. Rogers served as department chair for 18 years. He was a nationally recognized scholar of American country music. He was also a transformative teacher and taught courses on public speaking, American public address, political communication, and communication theory.

For more on Rogers and his life and career, see the link below:

Read the obituary of Jimmie Neal Rogers from Fayetteville, AR. Leave your condolences and send flowers to the family to show you care.

07/01/2026

Don’t miss out on our new course offerings! Joining the Department of Communication as an Assistant Professor this Fall, Dr. Jess Gantt-Shafer will be teaching two new special topics courses for undergraduates:
💬 COMM 39703-001: Dialogue and Deliberation provides hands-on experience as students are trained as facilitators of group conversations around complex topics or decisions.
📢 COMM 39603-007: Strategic Communication explores how we can best craft and convey messages that matter to us in a world competing for attention.

06/15/2026

Congrats to Dr. Meredith Neville-Shepard on winning the 2026 Outstanding Teaching Award from Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences! Selection is based on a letter of nomination, teaching evaluations and documentation about the nominee's teaching activities. Way to go, Dr. Neville-Shepard!

06/10/2026

Congrats to Dr. Ryan Neville-Shepard on winning the 2026 John E. King Award for Outstanding Service from Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences! This award recognizes members of the college who exhibit exemplary service to the campus and community! 🎉

06/09/2026

Congrats to Dr. Lisa Corrigan on being named the 2026 recipient of the Nolan Faculty Award! Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences gives out the Nolan Award each spring to recognize a faculty member who stands out for their outstanding contributions to graduate education. Way to go!

06/04/2026

Congrats to Assistant Professor Joomi Lee, who was named a 2026-2027 Connor Faculty Fellow! The Connor Endowed Faculty Fellowship provides essential faculty development opportunities to up-and-coming academic experts in Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Lee will use these funds to support her cutting-edge research on the interplay of motivation, cognition, and behavioral changes through the use of emerging media.

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!