Communication Studies at the University of Kansas

08/26/2026

This past summer, our very own Dr. Meggie Mapes took the TEDxKC stage. This week, the recording of her talk, “What Prison Taught Me About Gender Violence,” was released. In the talk, Dr. Mapes draws on her research with incarcerated men to explore how cultural stories about masculinity, power, and violence shape the way we understand gender-based violence.

A communication researcher spent months in prison studying men who'...

08/24/2026

Have you heard? KU Debate has been recognized as the best college debate program in the country!

American Liberty Media's 2026 rankings of the top 50 Competitive Debate Programs in the United States have selected Kansas as the top college debate program, of any type, in the country. Considering factors such as competitive success, institutional support, opportunities offered to students, and historical legacy, ALM has KU ranked as the top debate school in the country. These rankings compare all types and forms of debate programs, not just policy debate programs.

The University of Kansas took our top spot in 2026, capping off their competitive season by securing the Cross-Examination Debate Association (CEDA) National Championship. They were followed close behind by Emory University, a program that has been very strong in recent years, including winning the....

08/18/2026

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Molly Han, who successfully defended her dissertation, "How You Help Matters: An Experimental Test of (Non)accommodative Information and Relational Management in Intergenerational Technology Support on Older Adults’ Communication and Technology-Related Outcomes," on August 14, 2026!

Congratulations, Dr. Han, on this tremendous accomplishment!

08/11/2026

Feeling too tired or busy to reach out to friends? You’re not alone.

Dr. Jeff Hall has more great insights on why making time for the people in our lives matters, and how even small efforts to connect can make a difference. Check out his latest insights in CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/07/people-too-tired-to-reach-out-to-friends.html

'You need to find ways around' these barriers, says professor of communication at Kansas University Jeffrey Hall.

08/09/2026

Looking for something to listen to with your morning coffee? Dr. Robin Rowland recently joined The Arlene Bynon Show to discuss President Trump's rhetoric toward Canada.

Should Canada hit back dollar-for-dollar or stay above the fray? Arlene explores the debate dividing Canadians as Trump's insults pile up. Plus, the Iran war's toll on US military resources, Mark Carney's polling lead, and what it all means for our future.

08/07/2026

From trade wars and threats of making Canada the 51st state to delaying the opening of a cross-border bridge, President Donald Trump has repeatedly targeted America's northern neighbor. Why does Canada remain such a frequent focus of his rhetoric, and what are the political implications?

Watch Dr. Robin Rowland break it down in his conversation with the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation):

From a trade war, to threats of becoming the 51st state, to delaying the opening of a cross-border bridge, U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly sets his sights on his northern neighbour. Power & Politics speaks to rhetoric and political communication professor Robert C. Rowland about Trump's probl...

08/02/2026

In honor of National Friendship Day, check out this recent feature highlighting Dr. Jeff Hall's research on the evolving nature of friendship and social connection.

As National Friendship Day nears, research shows there may not be a loneliness epidemic.

07/28/2026

Can an app fix the 'friendship recession'? Dr. Jeff Hall tackled this timely question on NPR's Weekend Edition this past Saturday, sharing insights on friendship, connection, and the role of technology in our social lives. Check out the interview here:

Amidst what some researchers call a "friendship recession," apps and services have been proliferating to connect people. We hear from people who have used them reflect on what about them has worked or hasn't.

07/27/2026

We're proud to celebrate KU COMS's own Dr. Meggie Mapes, who presented at TEDxKC last Friday at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. In her talk, she explored the relationship between communication and violence, disrupting and accountability for perpetuating harm, and how these lessons apply beyond the prison walls.

Men learn violence as a means of communication at an early age, according to University of Kansas associate professor Meggie Mapes. So how do we get men to change their behavior? Mapes will speak at TEDxKC on Friday about her research into male prison inmates with a history of partner violence.

06/30/2026

This experimental study examined how a chatbot’s response style (empathetic versus informative), agent identity (generic versus anthropomorphized), and gender match (same versus different user/chat...