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Communication Studies Faculty

Among the Communication Studies faculty are top-notch scholars, researchers, and practitioners. We understand communication to matter in creating the world we want to see, and know that our support of students is essential in that world-building. We recognize the many perspectives our students bring into the classroom, and we seek to cultivate a curiosity and drive that leads to success.

Randall Auxier, Professor

Communication Studies and Philosophy

Randall Auxier was educated in the philosophy departments of the University of Memphis (B.A. 1986 and M.A. 1988) and Emory University (MA 1991 and Ph.D, 1992). His specialization in semiotics and symbol theory prepared him for a career spanning from extensive work in logic and metaphysics to popular culture and practical ethics, all based on symbolic and semiotic systems. 



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Randall Auxier

Office: Comm Bldg, Room 2242
Phone: 618-453-1882
personalist61@gmail.com

Nilanjana R. Bardhan, Professor

Communication Studies

Nilanjana R. Bardhan is a Professor of Communication Studies at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She has a B.A. (honors) from Lady Shriram College for Women (Delhi University) in English literature and philosophy (1991), an M.S.J. from the E.W Scripps School of Journalism, Ohio University, in public relations/advertising (1994), and a Ph.D. also from the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, Ohio University, in international/intercultural communication, critical media studies and public relations (1998).



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Nilanjana R. Bardhan

Office: Comm Bldg, Room 2250
Phone: 618-453-1891
bardhan@siu.edu

Sakshi Bhati, Assistant Professor

Sakshi Bhati is a Public Relations and Leadership lecturer in the Communication Studies Program at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She has a B.S. degree in Communication from Pittsburg State University (2018) and an M.A. in Communication from Pittsburg State University (2020). She is currently a Ph.D. Candidate in Leadership Communication at Kansas State University.



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SIU Communication Studies Professor Sakshi Bhati Office: Comm Bldg, Room 2002P
sakshi.bhati@siu.edu

Craig L. Engstrom, Associate Professor

Communication Studies

Craig L. Engstrom is an Associate Professor of Business Communication and certified Association Professional in Talent Development. He teaches courses in business communication, organizational communication, leadership, and social media. He is the director of undergraduate studies for the school.



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Craig L. Engstrom

Office: Morris Library, Room 110
Phone: 618-453-8114
craig.engstrom@siu.edu

Craig Gingrich-Philbrook, Professor

Communication Studies

Craig Gingrich-Philbrook is a Professor of Communication Studies at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He received his B.A. from California State University in English with a creative writing emphasis (1986), an M.A. from California State University in information and communication studies with an interpersonal and organizational communication emphasis (1988) and his Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in Speech Communication with an emphasis in performance studies (1994).



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Craig Gingrich-Philbrook

Office: Comm Bldg, Room 2002Q
Phone: 618-453-1883
craiggp@siu.edu

Todd Graham, Director of Debate

Communication Studies

Todd Graham is a Professor of Debate and the Director of the Saluki Debate Team in the School of Communication Studies at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He received his B.A. from Missouri Southern State College in Communication (1987), his M.A. from Kansas State University in Speech Communication (1990) and his Ph.D. from Arizona State University in Communication (2000).



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Todd Graham

Office: Comm Bldg, Room 2244
Phone: 618-453-5090
tgraham@siu.edu

Jonathan M. Gray, Associate Professor

Communication Studies

Jonathan M. Gray is an Associate Professor in the School of Communication Studies and faculty advisor for the Marion Kleinau Theatre. His primary research interests involve performative inquiries into the social construction of nature. His other scholarly interests reside at the intersections of queer identity, environmental advocacy, and aesthetic communication. 



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Jonathan M. Gray

Office: Comm Bldg, Room 2240
Phone: 618-453-7570
jmgray@siu.edu

Dustin A. Greenwalt, Assistant Professor of Practice, Coordinator of Undergraduate Studies

Communication Studies

Dustin A. Greenwalt is an Assistant Professor of Practice who specializes in Rhetorical Theory and Environmental Communication in the School of Communication Studies at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. He holds a Ph.D. in Rhetorical Theory from the Communication Studies Department at the University of Georgia (2015), an M.A. in Rhetoric from the Department of Communication Studies at Baylor University (2010) and a B.A. in Communication Studies from Wayne State University (2008). 



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Dustin Greenwalt Office: Comm Building 2002A
Phone: 618-453-1887
dustin.greenwalt@siu.edu

Joshua Houston, Senior Lecturer

Communication Studies

Joshua Houston is a Senior Lecturer in Communication Studies at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He received his B.A. in Communication from Culver-Stockton College (1996) and his M.A. in Public Communication and Broadcasting from Western Illinois University (1998). His special interests include the study of public relations in sports, as well as public relations ethics.



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Christina Ivey, Assistant Professor

Dr. Christina L. Ivey (she/they) is an Assistant Professor at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. They received their B.S. in Corporate Communication from West Texas A&M (2010), their M.A. in Communication Studies from Kansas State University (2012), and their Ph.D. in Communication Studies from University of Nebraska – Lincoln (2016). While in her Ph.D. program, she held a major emphasis was Rhetoric and Public Culture and a minor emphasis was Interpersonal and Intergroup Communication. She also obtained a graduate certificate in Women and Gender Studies from UNL. They are currently the Introductory Course Coordinator.



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Christina Ivey Office: Comm Bldg, Room 2002K
christina.ivey@siu.edu

Sandy Pensoneau-Conway, Director, Associate Professor

Communication Studies

Sandy Pensoneau-Conway is an Associate Professor of Communication Studies at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She received a B.S. (cum laude) in Speech Communication from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (1999), an M.S. in Speech Communication from Southern Illinois University Carbondale (2001), and a Ph.D. in Speech Communication from Southern Illinois University Carbondale (2006). 



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Sandra Pensoneau-Conway

Office: Comm Building 2008B
Phone: 618-453-2215
sandypc@siu.edu

Shelby Swafford, Assistant Professor of Practice

Shelby Swafford is an Assistant Professor of Practice in the School of Communication Studies at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She received her B.A. in Relational Communication from the University of South Florida (2014), her M.A. in Communication Studies from Southern Illinois University Carbondale (2016), and her Ph.D. in Communication Studies with an emphasis in performance studies from Southern Illinois University Carbondale (2023). She also holds an interdisciplinary graduate certificate in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.



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SIU Communications Studies Professor Shelby Swafford Office: Comm Bldg, Room 2006B
sswafford@siu.edu

Rebecca Walker, Director of Graduate Studies, Associate Professor

Communication Studies

Rebecca Walker is an Associate Professor of Communication Studies at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She received her B.A. and M.A. from the University of North Texas, both in the area of Communication Studies with an emphasis in performance studies (1998; 2004), and her Ph.D. from Louisiana State University in Communication Studies with an emphasis in performance studies (2011).  She currently also serves as the Director of Graduate Studies for the School of Communication Studies. 



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Rebecca Walker

Office: Comm Bldg, Room 2002J
Phone: 618-453-1885
r.walker@siu.edu

Justin Young, Assistant Lecturer

Communication Studies

Justin R. Young is an Assistant Lecturer in Communication Studies at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He received his B.S. in Electronic Journalism from Murray State University (2002) and his M.S. in Mass Communication also from Murray State University (2003).



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Justin Young

Office: Comm Bldg, Room 2209
justin.young@siu.edu