UA Little Rock Department of Applied Communication

10/14/2026

ACOM alumni and current students, join us for an evening of connection and conversation!

📅 Tuesday, October 20
🕡 6:30–7:30 p.m. Central time
💻 Zoom
🔗 Register: ualr.at/leaderlectures

Our next Applied Communication Leadership Lecture, “Anchored in ACOM: How Our Values Foster Connection & Growth,” features faculty member Amanda “Katie” West Halford.
Katie will share how our department’s history, relationships, and experiences with conflict helped us renew our mission and develop four shared values:

🌱 ASPIRE to Growth in Relationships
💛 CONNECT with Compassion
🤝 OWN our Impact on Others
➡️ MOVE Together in Collaboration and Trust

Whether you’re studying with us now or carrying your ACOM experience into your workplace and community, come explore how these values can help us strengthen relationships, navigate challenges, and create better social worlds through positive communication.

All are welcome! Invite a classmate, fellow alum, friend, or colleague to join you.

The Department of Applied Communication hosts leadership lectures multiple times a year, highlighting research and work done by faculty and alumni in the areas of communication, management, and leadership. These lectures are free and open to the public. Amanda Katie Halford will be our speaker for F...

09/18/2026

Join us during Peace Week for a 90-minute interactive workshop, entitled "Practicing Peace Across Differences: Skills for Listening, Understanding, and Repair," at the UA Little Rock Downtown location on Thursday, Sept. 24 at 6:30 p.m. at 333 President Clinton Avenue in Little Rock.

In this interactive workshop co-sponsored by the UA Little Rock Department of Applied Communication and Braver Angels Arkansas, Dr. April Chatham-Carpenter will move beyond simply talking about civil dialogue and actually help participants practice communication skills that can help: (a) Listen with curiosity across differences, (b) seek understanding without requiring agreement, (c) share our own perspectives constructively, and (d) repair conversations and relationships when things go wrong.

The workshop is free. You do not have to register in advance to attend, but registration helps us know how many people to expect.

The link below already includes a voucher for a free ticket: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/practicing-peace-across-differences-skills-for-listening-understanding-registration-1998675155192?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true&discount=BRAVER

Come ready not just to learn about better conversations, but to practice having them.

Practice skills for listening, understanding, and repairing relationships across differences—even when agreement isn’t possible.

02/11/2026

Hope you can join us tonight, to honor one of our own! Here's the link to sign up as well as the news article about Dr. Mock: https://ualr.edu/appliedcomm/lecture-series/
https://ualr.edu/news/2026/02/10/leadership-lecture-dr-robert-c-mock-jr-to-discuss-impact-of-ua-little-rock-education/

Dr. Robert C. Mock, Jr., president of Peru State College in Nebraska and a UA Little Rock alumnus, will return to campus for a leadership lecture hosted by the Applied ... Leadership Lecture: Dr. Robert C. Mock Jr. to Discuss Impact of UA Little Rock Education

01/09/2026

We are hiring at the Associate or Assistant Professor position, for Organizational and Crisis Communication specialists. See the job information at the link below.

University of Arkansas at Little Rock P00001837 / R0080742 Dept. of Applied Communication The University of Arkansas at Little Rock invites applications for the position of a 9-month, tenure-track Associate or Assistant Professor of Applied Communication (R0080742). This position supports the de...

10/17/2025

You don’t get better by doing more—you get better by changing how you do it.

In this video, Dr. Mirivel shares research from sociologist Dan Chambliss showing that real improvement in work, sports, and communication comes from making a qualitative change—not just more effort. Watch and discover how three key shifts can lead to real transformation.

Link:

You will learn the three essential ingredients of how to achieve excellence. In the video, I share the story of a research study developed by Dan Chambliss f...

10/10/2025

So many of us want to know: how can we create more meaningful conversations? How can we move beyond the surface level and really connect? In this new video, Dr. Julien Mirivel shares the story of a dinner conversation that became memorable for all. It all started when someone asked, “What’s your real story?” That question opened the door for real connection and set in motion a deep and moving conversation about family, identity, and the experiences that shape us.

Here is the Link: https://youtu.be/K3ysAGyzyzY?si=p_88JTZb7FHuQxak

Just remember this: When you ask meaningful questions, you create meaningful conversations.

In this video, you will learn one tip to start a meaningful conversation. All you need to do is ask one good question. I share a powerful moment from a dinne...

10/08/2025

Check out the following job call shared by Dr. Bisel for 2 renewable-term faculty positions at OK Univ to teach in their MA in Organizational Leadership. A link to the job call is here:

09/26/2025

Want to write better emails? ✉️ In this video, Dr. Julien Mirivel shares the #1 tip backed by research. A study comparing two very different workplace cultures found that the best communicators don’t just send information in emails — they build connection. A simple warm greeting or thoughtful closing can transform your email (and your relationships). Bonus Tip: focus on the relationship, not just on content.

In this video, you will learn my #1 tip to write a great email at work. Leaders and professionals often use email to transmit information, but the best commu...

09/19/2025

Every interaction holds the potential for meaning, connection, and joy—if you choose to see it. Watch Dr. Julien Mirivel's latest video here to discover how savoring small moments can transform the way you communicate and build relationships.

This video illustrates how to appreciate the small moments in your life. It's really just a matter of perspective. Using a story from Dan Millman's book, "Wa...

09/12/2025

How we talk to ourselves in difficult moments shapes our resilience and our well-being. In this video, Dr. Julien Mirivel shares an inspiring example of how to shift your self-talk toward something more positive and empowering. Remember: the way you communicate with yourself matters just as much as how you communicate with others.

This video gives you one clear strategy to stay strong and be kind to yourself even in the hardest times. With a clear example, I show you how you can talk t...