Campus Connection

Ronda Smith, Communication Studies, has been appointed to a 50 percent position as interim director of the School of Arts and Communication for the 2009-10 annual year and assumed duties on July 1. Smith has been chair of Communication Studies, where she has provided leadership for a department of 27 faculty and staff and over 400 undergraduate majors and minors. Smith has extensive experience in university leadership roles. She has served on the Faculty Senate Committee/Executive Committee and on the Joint Planning and Budget Committee/Executive Committee. She chaired the College of Liberal Studies (CLS) Dean Search and Screen Committee, the CLS Public Relations Committee and the Communication Committee for the National Conference on Undergraduate Research. Smith maintains an active teaching schedule, with a focus on interviewing principles and processes and organizational, professional, group and health communication. Her recent publications and presentations span such topics as students’ perceptions of learning in a study abroad experience and recommendations for effective pedagogy, computer mediated communication and adult learners, and service-learning and learning community. Smith has served as editorial review board member for the Journal of Communication Studies, Communication Teacher and Health Communication Studies. In November 2006 she received the YWCA Tribute to Outstanding Women Award, Education Achievement Award. She was also recognized for excellence with a CLS Recognition of Excellence Award for Service in 2005. She can be seen each semester in concert, as a member of the UW-L Women’s Samulnori (Korean Percussion) Ensemble. Smith's office is now located in 235E Morris Hall.