2022-2023 Annual Report

Hugh Downs the communicator

The national renown of the faculty, the first-class programs, and the success of the students exemplify the finest in higher education.

-Hugh Downs

The consummate communicator, whether broadcasting the news or talking with students at ASU, Hugh Downs understood the essential role human communication plays in forging connections, sharing ideas and knowledge, and creating understanding.

Letter from the Director

The Hugh Downs School continues to grow, innovate, and fulfill ASU’s mission and charter. Our students are thriving and our faculty is producing award-winning scholarship and creative activities that are internationally recognized. We could not be who we are without you as our foundation.

Our goal is to make a difference through impactful research and teaching that helps our students harness the power of communication to build strong relationships and communities, become effective leaders and solve complex problems. I am pleased to share some exciting school updates that support this goal.

We continue to grow and expand our Online MA in Communication program, one of the largest MA programs in The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. We welcomed Dr. Jen Eden as our new Director of Online Education and launched two new courses: Health Communication and Social Change; and Race and Communication in the Public Sphere. Graduating 40-50 students each semester, this program teaches skills that help professionals advance in their current careers or succeed in new ones.

To provide a range of enrichment opportunities beyond the classroom, we developed COM 404, an Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship program. This course allows students to work with individual faculty members and their research teams on our school’s many outstanding research projects.

We also successfully culminated a project that I called “The 100 Conversations Challenge.” The goal was for our school members to make connections and spread the word about the great things happening in the Hugh Downs School. This challenge was met; faculty had over 100 such conversations, leading to partnerships with departments in other universities, working on grants, and consulting with businesses.

We continue to engage with our alumni, including those who are among the Sun Devil 100, an elite group of outstanding ASU alumni who own or lead successful, innovative businesses with years of consecutive growth. We presented our Alumna of the Year Award to Jodi Low, a 2008 communication graduate and member of the Sun Devil 100. Low, along with several other successful alumni, gave inspiring guest lectures about their careers in our undergraduate classes.

We welcome and invite strategic partnerships with organizations and individuals who share our passion about the importance of human communication. Just as we believe in our school motto that “it all begins with good communication,” we also know that it all begins with everyone who supports our school and enables it to grow and flourish.

Best Regards,

Sarah J. Tracy School Director and Professor Hugh Downs School of Human Communication

About the HDSHC

In a technology-infused world, effective human communication is more important than ever. Our internationally recognized faculty work with students to better understand how communication can be used to improve society, communities, workplaces, and relationships. Our courses provide students with the tools to understand, analyze and respond to communication problems and opportunities so they are prepared for the jobs of today and tomorrow.

59

Total Faculty

20

Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty

1,760

19k+

Undergraduate Majors Online M.A. Students

220

46

Total Enrollment for 2022-23 PhD Students

Based on research productivity measured by the Communication Institute for Online Scholarship, the Hugh Downs School is ranked in the Top 10 nationwide in the following areas:

• Intercultural Communication (6th)

• Interpersonal Communication (7th)

• Marriage & Intimacy (5th)

• Sexuality (6th)

• Organizational Communication (8th)

• Nonverbal Communication (10th)

Class of 2026 communication majors attending first-year student orientation

2022-2023 HDSHC Leadership

Sarah J. Tracy Director and Professor

Belle Edson Director of Undergraduate Studies

Raena Quinlivan Director of Online Masters Program

Bradley Adame Associate Director

Laura K. Guerrero Director of Stakeholder Engagement and Innovation

Jen Eden Director of Online Learning

Jonathan Pettigrew Director of Doctoral Studies

Research that impacts lives

One facet of the Hugh Downs School is that we value the diversity of our research. From research that fosters social change and equity in underserved communities to contemporary research on virtual reality and human-robot communication, our work impacts lives by improving communication in society, communities, workplaces, and relationships. This year our faculty have been featured in such media outlets as The New York Times, Newsweek, Psychology Today, and PBS Marketplace.

Research and mentorship

Students have the opportunity to work with award-winning faculty. In 2022-23 the HDSHC graduated doctoral students who conducted research on topics such as compassion among healthcare workers, disability microaggressions, friendship breakups, workplace flourishing, positive group dialogue, toxic romantic relationships, and workplace flourishing. Undergraduate students also have the opportunity to be research apprentices for faculty members.

Dedicated to social change

Our school focuses on changing lives for the better. Faculty have engaged in research on health and social disparity issues, gender inequity, peace-building, and collaborative decision-making. They have also created communication tools, including an app to drive communitycentered solutions in impoverished areas and a series of health intervention materials for families and youth.

Better communication with digital technology

Our School is dedicated to conducting research that examines communication across various contexts, ranging from in-person interaction to technologymediated communication. Faculty and graduate students investigate contemporary topics such as artificial intelligence, the cultural implications of technology, human-robot communication, internet safety for adolescents, online dating, social media as a tool for civic engagement, and virtual reality, among others.

2022-2023 Scholarship by the numbers

100+ 16 3

Published Articles and Chapters

Top Paper Awards at Professional Conferences

Books by Faculty

Spotlight on socially-embedded global research

In March 2023, the cast of “Toma el Trago” (Spanish for “Take the Drink”) filmed a video at The Empty Space as part of Associate Professor Jonathan Pettigrew’s grant-funded project designed to empower youth and communities through the implementation of anti-drug programs and training.

Associate Professor Uttaran Dutta continues his research to help provide sustainable community-based development and social change in underserved communities using local resources.

Jonathan Pettigrew co-authored Professing Christ

Jenna Hanchey authored The Center Cannot Hold

Jonathan Pettigrew co-authored Family Communication and the Christian Faith

Accomplishments

Awards and recognition

Daniel Brouwer, associate professor, posthumously received the National Communication Association’s Golden Anniversary Monograph Award for the article “Decentering whiteness and AIDS memory: Indigent rhetorical criticism and the dead of Hart Island,” published in the Quarterly Journal of Speech, co-authored with Charles E. Morris III.

Marco Dehnert, doctoral student, and Paul Mongeau, professor, received the Outstanding Article Award in Human Communication and Technology at the National Communication Association conference for their article, “Persuasion in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (AI): Theories and Complications of AI-based Persuasion” published in Human Communication Research.

Sarah Amira de la Garza, associate professor, received the Legacy Award from the Ethnography Division and the Córdova-Puchot Scholar of the Year Award from the Latina/o Communication Studies Division of the National Communication Association.

Laura K. Guerrero, professor, received the 2023 Distinguished Scholar Award from the Western States Communication Association and was listed in Stanford University’s Research Innovation Center’s 2023 career rankings as among the top two percent of scientists in the world across all fields.

Jenna N. Hanchey, assistant professor, received the New Investigator Award from the Critical and Cultural

Marco Dehnert and Paul Mongeau with their Outstanding Article Award

Laura Guerrero with her Distinguished Scholar Award at the WSCA convention

Studies Division of the National Communication Association, and the Early Career Award from the Rhetorical and Communication Theory Division of the National Communication Association.

Darien Keane, instructor, received the inaugural Instructor of the Year Award from the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication.

Lore/tta LeMaster, assistant professor, received the Book of the Year Award from the GLBTQ Communication Studies Division of the National Communication Association for “Gender futurity, intersectional autoethnography:

Embodied theorizing from the margins,” co-authored with Amber Johnson.

Liesel Sharabi, assistant professor, received the Early Career Award from the Interpersonal Division of the National Communication Association.

Sarah J. Tracy, professor, was listed in Stanford University’s Research Innovation Center’s 2023 career rankings as among the top two percent of scientists in the world across all fields.

Joris Van Ouytsel, assistant professor, received the Hugh Downs School Faculty Innovation Award.

Promotions and retirement

We congratulate two of our faculty, Lore/tta LeMaster and Liesel Sharabi, who were tenured and promoted to the rank of associate professor this year. We appreciate their important contributions to our school.

Congratulations also goes to Sarah Amira de la Garza who retired this year after more than three decades at ASU. She will continue her work as a professor emerita and affiliate faculty member for the School of Transborder Studies.

Sarah Amira de la Garza will continue working for social change post-retirement.

Jenna Hanchey and Liesel Sharabi both received early career awards

Faculty in the news

ASU Workshop focuses on the power, politics of public restroom design

The Hugh Downs School partnered with ASU’s Project Humanities for a workshop to imagine architectural designs that acknowledge the common discomfort with the current designs of many public restrooms. The event featured discussion, storytelling and problemsolving to create inclusive and dignified public bathroom spaces for all community members at ASU and beyond.

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ASU draws top diplomats, officials, researchers to forum on competitive statecraft

Professor Steve Corman directs the Center for Strategic Communication, which studies disinformation, counterterrorism and public diplomacy, including the ongoing Chinese propaganda against the U.S. Along with top diplomats, business leaders, and distinguished faculty, he participated in ASU’s Forum on

Innovating for Competitive Statecraft, a 2-day conference that focused on ways the U.S. can reestablish and maintain its competitive edge on the international stage.

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More internet matches are leading to happy marriages

Associate Professor Liesel Sharabi is the director of ASU’s Relationships and Technology Lab and has spent more than a decade studying how communication technologies are used to initiate, maintain and dissolve interpersonal relationships.

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Black men’s health and wellbeing focus of town hall at ASU Downtown Phoenix campus

The health and well-being of Black men in Arizona was the focus of an event hosted by Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University. Among the organizers was Hugh Downs School Professor and Associate Dean Olga Davis, whose work focuses on critical cultural communication, health disparities and health equity research to improve the health outcomes of underserved populations, particularly the African American community.

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An outcry against injustice in South Korea

Associate Professor Heewon Kim wrote a book in Korean that she says is roughly titled “A World Beyond: Debunking the Fairness Myth.” In it, the South Korean-born scholar argues against the country’s unjust policies aimed at members of the LGTBQ community, people with disabilities and other marginalized groups in South Korea.

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in the news

ASU student earns prestigious Arizona Governor’s Office internship

When ASU junior Abby Lynne found out she was selected to intern in the Office of the Governor as part of the Arizona Legislative and Government Internship Program, she knew she would put her communication skills to work. Abby listed her courses in Public Speaking and Advanced Critical Methods in Communication as especially helpful in preparing her for her internship.

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ASU graduate explores friendship breakup

What happens when you’re not best friends forever? Why does losing friends hurt so much? Those are the questions that Brianna Avalos wanted answers to. While pursuing her PhD at Arizona State University, she focused her dissertation research on the way humans initiate, manage and terminate friendships, and discovered multiple reasons why friendship breakups are so stressful.

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ASU Dean’s Medalist in communication

Last year the Hugh Downs School graduated 582 communication majors. Among them was Corbin Kohtz, who was selected as the overall outstanding undergraduate student. Kohtz held leadership positions in our Association of Human Communication and aspires to earn his PhD and become a communication professor.

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Partnership between ASU, YouTube, Crash Course expands to offer courses for college credit

COM 100: Intro to Human Communication was one of the first classes offered and launched through this new partnership, hosted by Hugh Downs School Graduate Student Cassandra Ryder. These fun and easy-to-understand videos explore essential human communication concepts.

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Communication grad and comedian starts stand-up club at ASU

Senior Luke Rowland created Sun Devil Stand Up to help aspiring comedians. Rowland started the club after discovering that ASU already had sketch and improv comedy clubs on campus, such as Farce Side, Tempe Late Night and Barren Mind, but not one that specialized in the art form of stand-up comedy.

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Alumni Success

Sun Devil 100

In 2023, 15 of the 157 Sun Devil 100, nearly ten percent, are graduates from the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication. The Sun Devil 100 are selected by the Arizona State University Alumni Association to celebrate alumni who own or lead successful, fast-growing, innovative businesses across the globe.

That so many of our majors were included in the 2023 class is a clear indication of the value of our communication degree. These graduates used the skills we teach to excel not only in their jobs but also in their communities.

Congratulations to this year’s honorees from the Hugh Downs School:

Nick Bruggeman | Class of 2010 | Co-founder and vice president of CCT Research

Kathleen Duffy | Class of 1981 | President and CEO of the Duffy Group Inc.

Ben Ellis | Class of 2013 | Founding partner and designated broker of E & G Real Estate Services

Eric Ganz | Class of 2003 | Managing partner and founder of 360 Industrial Services

Michael Hagerty | Class of 1985 | Founder, owner and president of Copy King Office Solutions, Inc.

Eden Higgins | Class of 1987 | Vice-president, Duffy Group, Inc.

Rick Hurley | Class of 2007 | Owner and principal of Heirloom Wealth Management

Charles “Reagan” Jackson | Class of 2004 | CEO Technologies

Jennifer Kaplan | Class of 2010 | Owner and founder of Evolve Public Relations & Marketing

Jamie LeVine | Class of 2001 | Chief communications officer of Steve LeVine Entertainment and Public Relations

Jodi Low | Class of 2008 | Founder and CEO of U & Improved

Emily Soccorsy | Class of 1999 | CEO and owner of Root + River

Tyler Thompson | Class of 1998 | Founder and owner of World Motors LLC

Tim Vasquez | Class of 1998 | Owner of Someburros

Jessica Whitney | Class of 2004 | Vice president of development and marketing of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central AZ

Communication is at the very heart of what I do every day. Having a degree in human communication gave me a strong inherent understanding of communication in all its forms before I even entered the workforce. There’s no part of my professional career — leadership, brand strategy, management — that communication is not a part of. I use my degree every day!”

Emily Soccorsy

Class of 1999 | CEO and owner of Root + River

Photo courtesy ASU Alumni Association

Alumni in the News

Hugh Downs School graduate Jon Rahm won the 2023 Masters, clinching his first green jacket and second career major championship.

Giving Back

Hugh Downs School Alum, Mike Noble, Founder and CEO of Noble Predictive Insights, is often featured in media outlets across the Valley.

Several of our alumni have visited classes to enrich our students’ learning by sharing their real-world experiences and insights. These inspirational guest lecturers covered a range of valuable topics, such as emphasizing the significance of communication in relationship building, discussing effective leadership and organizational growth strategies, and delving into innovative approaches for positioning businesses and organizations through external communication.

Thanks to the following alumni who participated:

Ben Ellis, Founder, E & G Real Estate Services

Jennifer Kaplan, CEO and Founder, Evolve Public Relations & Marketing

Jodi Low, Founder and CEO, U & Improved

Tyler Thompson, Founder and Owner, World Motors

Congratulations to 2023 Hugh Downs School

Alumna of the Year, Jodi Low, Founder and CEO of U & Improved.

Pictured rom Left to Right: Assistant Professor Elissa

Adame, Alum Jodi Low, Associate Director Bradley Adame and Director Sarah J. Tracy

Philanthropy fuels possibilities

When you give to the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication you become a partner in the academic success of our students, the research discoveries of our faculty and the continued effort to make the world better.

Featured Undergraduate Award Recipients in 2023

“My distinctions as a Dean’s scholar, two-time HDSHC scholarship awardee, Barrett student, and Fulbright Fellow would not have been possible without your generosity, and I am now able to focus on my honors thesis and graduate school applications without worrying about finances thanks to you.”

Fajr Ahmad, Recipient of the Rusty and Rosie Lyon Endowment

“I became a communication major a year into attending school, and I love the diverse classes and opportunities to learn about so many different fields. I’ve grown to become passionate about marketing, and I enjoy the intersection of creativity and analytics and plan to continue this after college, preferably working in marketing and advertising.”

Peyton Burruss, Recipient of the William and Teeny Drakos Endowment Scholarship

“I have enjoyed utilizing my strengths and learning valuable skills to aid my future career aspirations in sales, public relations, and marketing. I cannot express enough how much this scholarship means to me and the impact it will have on my academic and personal life at Arizona State. Thank you so much for your generosity and support.”

Ryan Snyder, Recipient of the Norman K. Perrill Scholarship Endowment

Thank you

to donors who supported HDSHC during the 2022-2023 academic year. Together, we funded student scholarships, research and academic programming.

Amber Wilson

Amy Przytula Vynalek and Christopher Vynalek

Analysia Arroyo

Anthony Roberto

Benjamin Broome and Bliss Little

Brendan and Kailee Cunningham

Catherine Sebold

Christine and Neale Louthain

Christine Muldoon

Erick and Brandy Roebuck

Ewan Tristan Booth

Heather Freireich

Jennifer Linde

Justin Skarb

K. Jeanine Congalton and Kathryn Congalton

Karen Kimmey and Christopher Hinnant

Kristin Dybvig-Pawelko and Jason Pawelko

Kyle and Kristin Fray

Liesel Sharabi

Matthew Morris

Michelle Kelsey

Paul Mongeau and Arta Damnjanovic

Ralph and Monique Nebelung

Richard Crusinberry

Ron Chaldu

Sarah Amira de la Garza

Sarah Tracy and Brad Hendron

Stephen McDaniel and Justine Nguyen

Stetler Brown

Sylvia and Adam Symonds

The Benevity Community Impact Fund