Dr. Jordan Atkinson, Dr. James Carviou, Dr. David McMahan and Dr. Mei Zhang represented Missouri Western State University at the 107th Annual National Communication Association Convention in Seattle, Washington Nov. 18-21, 2021.
Dr. Jordan Atkinson served on this year’s NCA Convention Committee and presented during the Convention Committee meeting. Dr. Atkinson chaired discussion panels for Navigating Body Image and Embodiment in the Classroom: Teacher Experiences and Instructional Communication in Virtual Environments: Examining Immediacy, Communication Apprehension, Peer Confirmation, and Student Camera Use discussion panels. Dr. Atkinson was awarded the 2021 Presidential Citation for Service Award for his extensive service to NCA and the Communication discipline.
Dr. James Carviou presented his authored paper, “Teaching While Gay: The Complicated Relationship Between Living True and Creating a Connected Learning Environment” as part of a panel titled “Interrogating Boundaries and Breakthroughs Related to Inclusivity in the Academy.”
Serving as President of NCA, Dr. McMahan welcomed convention guests during the opening session. In addition to presiding over the Legislative Assembly, Leadership Development Committee, and Regional President and Executive Directors meetings, Dr. McMahan delivered the Presidental Address, Assessing and Advancing the Discipline. Dr. McMahan also served as Chair for the NCA Distinguished Scholars of 2021: Reflections on Their Scholarship.
Dr. Mei Zhang chaired the discussion panel The Renewal and Transformation of Health, Science and Identity. Dr. Zhang served as a presenter for Association for Chinese Communication Studies (ACCS) 30th Anniversary Solidarity Panel: Addressing Anti-Asian Hate and Violence, Advocating for a Path Toward Transformation and Renewal and Mentoring, Networking and Building Community as Asian/Pacific American Scholars. Dr. Zhang served as respondent for Advocating for Cultural, Social, and Political Change in and Beyond the Asia/Pacific and Accentuating Cultural Differences and Voicing Change. Dr. Zhang presented her authored paper, Establishing Credibility and Building Rapport to Transform Virtual Learning Experience.