Department of Communication Studies UNL

09/03/2026

Bill and Kathi Seiler $1000 Scholarship

Students meeting the following criteria are eligible to apply:
• Communication Studies major
• Junior or senior class standing
• Cumulative GPA of 3.25 or above

In addition to these criteria, recipients should demonstrate involvement in activities and/or leadership within the Department of Communication Studies. Students may also discuss activities and/or leadership in the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and/or in the local community. Special consideration is given to first-generation students, although all students are encouraged to apply.

To apply, students should submit the following to Dr. Satveer Kaur-Gill ([email protected]) by September 30th: (a) current resume, (b) a 1-2 page letter addressing how your experiences match the criteria listed above, (c) unofficial transcript, and (d) name and contact information for two references that can speak to your academic achievements, involvement in the aforementioned activities, and/or leadership in the department and/or university. Applicants will be notified prior to the end of the Fall 2026 semester.

About the scholarship:

Retiring in 2020, Dr. William (Bill) Seiler was an award-winning teacher and scholar serving as a Professor in the Department of Communication Studies for 48 years, including 21 years as Department Chair. Along with Bill, Kathi Seiler was dedicated to supporting students, faculty, and staff throughout his tenure in the department.

09/03/2026

07/07/2026

Jody Koenig Kellas, Willa Cather Professor in the Department of Communication Studies, received the Most Promising New Textbook Award from the Textbook and Academic Authors Association. The award recognizes excellence in first edition textbooks and learning materials.

Kellas and co-author Valerie Manusov of the University of Washington were recognized for the textbook “Interpersonal Communication: The Within and The Between,” which introduces a philosophy called “wholeness” in which communication is viewed as a product of both the within and the between.

Nebraska College of Arts and Sciences

06/29/2026

Who am I? We have probably all found ourselves engaging this question on walks or runs, driving long distances, discussions with friends and family, or just thinking about life. Sometimes this question arises out of critical life events, sometimes this question comes up in our normal development across the lifespan, sometimes this question comes up in reflecting on relationships with others, sometimes this question just comes up! Often, we think of identity as something simply “within us.” However, “we are not random individuals wandering the planet with no connections to others… to be part of a group is truly human…we need to understand collective identities as a key aspect of human behavior…” (from Harwood’s essay, Communication as… Social Identity). This course will focus on addressing the question of “Who am I?” emphasizing that understanding ourselves necessitates recognizing how we conceptualize and experience connection or difference with others and how this manifests in our attitudes, relationships, and conflict in personal, professional, and social relationships.

05/08/2026

Congratulations to MA student Haroon Al Hayder for his teaching excellence as well as the support and leadership he provides to the department community.

05/08/2026

“Amy is an intensely dedicated and passionate researcher… accolades showcase that her output of this important and timely scholarship is high not only in volume, but also in quality.”    
 
“Amy has developed an incredible pipeline of research… is ambitious and has an impeccable CV for someone who so early in their career.”

05/08/2026

For her work and effort in and outside of the classroom, we are proud to recognize Haley Gosch with this award. From her nominations: “Haley has been nothing short of amazing… has brought the most positive energy that lightens my day every Tuesday…you can truly tell she has a passion for what she teaches, as she always goes out of her way to make sure her students and understanding and enjoying the class…Haley is extremely engaging, enthusiastic, and passionate.”

05/08/2026

The Bruce Kendall Teaching Award recognizes instructors for their work and efforts in and outside of the classroom. As one nominee said, “Casey is by far one of the most entertaining, enlightening, and approachable teachers I have ever had in my graduate career. He goes above and beyond for the students he teaches, even going as far as leading an independent study course for the rhetoric first years due to a lack of courses, despite not being sectioned to teach a graduate class that semester… This is to say that Casey has demonstrated a level of care, investment, and willingness to take on extra work if it means that his students succeed.”

05/06/2026

Ashley is a graduating senior who serves on the Student Advisory Board for our department. She has been a consistent, steady presence on the board and has been integral to the success of the board’s initiatives to both build community in the major and to promote professional development for our undergraduate students. As a new member of the advisory board this year, Ashley jumped in right away to be a key part of planning the highly successful Welcome Back Event for the department. She has been a critical voice on the board informing the Options curricular proposal that the department recently adopted - providing important insight from the undergraduate perspective on the importance of these options in both attracting and retaining students in the major. She was also central to informing the development of the recently launched Communication Studies Major Canvas shell. She provided consistent, insightful feedback, particularly in the preparing for careers space, that led to the creation of the transferrable and niche skills tracker and the job search template. Finally, Ashley was the driving force for the LinkedIn Strategy Professional Development event. I have truly valued Ashley’s leadership on the board and it is clear that she has had a profound impact on our undergraduate program through this leadership. She is truly deserving to be honored in this way.