Projects
Dr. Edwards's scholarship echoes the broader themes of her academic work: Rooted in communication with strong themes of social justice and dynamic adjustment. Her work is increasingly focused in two areas: (1) understanding how identity and positionality influence and are influenced by communication, and (2) examining and advocating for the evolving communication classroom, especially related to equity and technology.
Recently Published
BOOK CHAPTER
From Novel to Necessary: COVID-19 and the Kairos of Bringing Technology into Communication Classrooms
in POST-PANDEMIC PEDAGOGY: A PARADIGM SHIFT
November 2021
"...Edwards proposes that the pandemic present[s] higher education with a kairotic moment, where the embrace between technology and teaching moved from being optional to required. For Edwards, this kairotic moment represents even more than just a time to shift pedagogy, but also a time where communication scholars - specifically those who are experts in computer-mediated communication--are needed to help debunk myths about the practice, and export their knowledge across other disciplines to elevate pedagogy across the academic spectrum. As Edwards argues, the technological upheavals of the last year are here to stay, and we should embrace the moment in our classes and in our discipline to share our own expertise with colleagues across academe."
-- Joseph Valenzano, Editor
FORUM ESSAY
From TEDtalks to TikTok: Teaching Digital Communication to Match Student Skills with Employer Desires
in the BASIC COMMUNICATION COURSE ANNUAL
January 2021
"As Edwards identifies in her essay, survey after survey (such as the annual NACE studies) identify both "ability to verbally communicate" and numerous skills that are more communication than anything else--interpersonal skills, ability to influence others, ability to work in a team--as the most important skills employers are seeking. [...] Edwards [notes] the need to better prepare our students for communication in mediated settings. Edwards offers a tremendous rationale and vision." -- Jon A. Hess, forum respondent
JOURNAL ARTICLE
Food for Thought: An Exercise in Third-Culture Building
in the COMMUNICATION TEACHER
December 2020
Abstract: Teaching intercultural communication presents many challenges, particularly at predominantly white institutions (PWI). Individuals who hold majority identities may have difficulty seeing their own culture or race and, relatedly, the value of intercultural communication for their lives. Additionally, students who hold marginalized or minoritized identities can feel the burden of being cultural ambassadors in classroom discussions, creating an inequitable labor burden. Moreover, students of all identities may experience discomfort related to conversations about culture. This semester-long assignment seeks to address those challenges by contextualizing culture in a way that can be applied to all students, regardless of the identities they hold. The Food for Thought assignment is a third-culture-building exercise designed to teach students about culture and intercultural communication through a communal dining experience.
JOURNAL ARTICLE
The Dilemma of Being Colin Kaepernick: A Rhetorical Analysis of the #takeaknee Protest Using Heider's Balance Theory
with M. ELIZABETH THORPE, SUNY BROCKPORT
in the IOWA JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION
September 2019
Abstract: Colin Kaepernick and the #takeaknee protest have been simultaneously criticized and praised. Critics argue that Kaepernick disrespects veterans and the country, while supporter suggest he is an advocate for social justice in the mistreatment of people of color, especially by law enforcement. Beyond partisan politics, this paper shows that critics and supporters alike are evaluating Kaepernick's protest on the basis of perceived consistency between his identity and behavior. Drawing on Heider's balance theory, we argue that individuals who focus on Kaepernick's identity as a professional athlete will be critical of the protest because it is out of balance with the NFL's views on [non-dissenting] patriotism. Alternatively, individuals who focus on Kaepernick's identity as a Black man will support his protest because it is in balance with a long history of protest within the African American community. The implications of this argument suggest the importance of considering the intersectional identities of rhetors and expanding balance theory to consider a greater number of factors when making consistency judgments.
Ongoing Projects
ONGOING PROJECT
What are the impacts of a fat studies course on students' body image?
with LAURIE COOPER STOLL, UW - LA CROSSE
ONGOING PROJECT
60-Second Stories: Using TikTok-inspired Speeches to Build Student Agency for Public Speaking
AWARDED TOP PAPER, G.I.F.T.S. DIVISION
presented at NCA's Convention in Seattle, WA
November 2021
ONGOING PROJECT
Communicative Responsibility, Explanatory Commas, and the University Classroom
PROJECT SPONSORED BY THE FACULTY RESEARCH AWARD FOR EXTRAORDINARY D&I SERVICE
ONGOING PROJECT
A Theory of Polite Support Seeking (TOPSS)
ONGOING PROJECT
"Use the buddy system!": Memorable Messages College Students Receive Regarding Campus Safety
with HEATHER MATTHYS, OHIO UNIVERSITY
presented at NCA's Convention in Seattle, WA
November 2021