2024 ICA Conference Program - click here for a PDF version!
Sept. 27-28 at DMACC-Urban (Building 7) in Des Moines!
DMACC Campus Map (you can also access the campus map and driving directions to DMACC-Urban here; parking for the conference is in Parking Lot F)
Friday, Sept. 27:
9:15-10:30 a.m.: Session Block A
Like Lemmings Off a Cliff: Regional colleges content with the demographic graduation drop off and the disfavor of higher education. What can we do?
Chair: Dr. Elizabeth K. Viall, Wayne State (Neb.)
Panelists: Dr. Teresa Morales, Wayne State (Neb.); Dr. Allyn Lueders, Wayne State (Neb.)
The different elements of media: Understanding the differences between journalism and public relations in communication production and education.
Chair: Dr. Lori Costello, University of South Dakota
Panelists: Dr. Kyle Miller, Northwest Missouri State; Dr. Joy Daggs, Northwest Missouri State; Amy McCoy, Drake
AI on our side: ChatGPT as a Tool in the Two-year Composition Classroom.
Panelist: Amee Schmidt, Marshalltown Community College
10:45 a.m.-noon: Session Block B
G. Jon Hall Online GIFT Forum — Social Media in Education.
Chair: Dr. Jeffrey Brand, University of Northern Iowa
Panelists: Dr. Marianne Leonardi, St. Ambrose; David Wendt, West Burlington (Iowa) High School
Relevant Reflections: Harnessing Pop Culture in Communication Studies.
Chair: Aimee Langager, DMACC-Urban
Panelists: Amy McCoy, Drake; Aimee Langager, DMACC-Urban; Dr. Lori Costello, USD
Research in Progress Panel:
(Drake) Not Like Us: How Mixedness, Racial Ambiguity, and Accusations of Cultural Appropriation Influenced the Outcome of the Kendrick Lamar/Drake Rap Beef.
Dr. Anthony C. Peavy, Iowa State; Dr. Dawne McClure, Pasadena City College; Jarael Madyun, ISU
The ‘Dragon Lady’ Stereotype Portrayal in American Films from the 1990s to Present: Impacts on Asian American and Pacific Islander Women’s Identity and Perception.
Albert Junior Nyarko, Washington State
12:15-1:45 p.m.: Business Meeting and Awards Luncheon
2-3:15 p.m.: Session Block C
Looking Back and Looking Forward: Online Technologies in Teaching — 20 Years of G. Jon Hall Online GIFT Forum.
Chair: Dr. Melissa Beall, UNI
Panelists: Dr. Joy Daggs, Northwest Missouri State; Marilyn Shaw, UNI; Eric Upmeyer, Vinton Shellsburg (Iowa) HS; Dale Cyphert, UNI; Gayle Pohl, UNI
Is Oral Communication Becoming a High School Class?
Chair: Ryan Courtney, Hawkeye Community College
Panelists: Dr. Anthony Peavy, Iowa State; Dr. Ryan McGeough, UNI; Dr. Mary Fornoff, ISU; Sade Barfield, UNI
Embodying Creativity in the Public Speaking Classroom.
Chair: Dr. Maggie LaWare, ISU
Panelists: Jacob Oliver, ISU; Ali Seyyed Mousavi, ISU; Emma Krab, ISU; Duong “Zoe” Nguyen, ISU; Nathan Vinehout Kane, ISU; Benjamin Godard, ISU; Elham Khamoushi, ISU; Joan Chamberlin, ISU; Sara Haughn, ISU
3:30-4:45 p.m.: Keynote Speaker - Dr. Kendra Hall, WITCC
5-6 p.m.: Social Hour & Reception: 20th Anniversary Celebration of G. Jon Hall Online GIFT Forum
Saturday, Sept. 28:
9:15-10:30 a.m.: Session Block D
Embracing Failure with Compassion: A Path to Grow for Professors and Students.
Co-Chairs: Amy McCoy, Drake; Aimee Langager, DMACC-Urban
Not to Know is Bad; Not to Wish to Know is Worse: An Invitation to Intercultural Learning and Social Justice in Africa.
Chair: Dr. Joshua E. Young, Divine Word
Panelists: Sr. Jesca Alitubeera, Divine Word; Sr. Cecilia Fukah Egho, Divine Word; Sr. Monica Kabiru, Divine Word; Sr. Leah Kinyua, Divine Word; Sr. Yvette Muyere Shey, Divine Word; Sr. Comfort Nguyongo, Divine Word.
Of Climate or “We Live in an Age of Fools”: Using External Evidence to Critique the Iowa Caucus Discourse of Vivek Ramaswamy.
Panelists: Dr. Thomas Duncanson, Millikin University; Dr. Jeffrey Brand, UNI
10:45 a.m.-noon: Session Block E
Creating partnerships in rural communities: Exploring public relations campaigns for real-world clients.
Chair: Dr. Joy Daggs, Northwest Missouri State
Panelists: Dr. Kyle Miller, Northwest Missouri State; Georgia McGonigle, Northwest Missouri State; Lucas Prater, Northwest Missouri State; Anna Hart, Northwest Missouri State
Westphal Student Paper Panel:
1st place – “User Perception of Gender Portrayals in Video Games” by Quinn T. Gienapp, University of South Dakota.
Advisor – Travis Loof, Ph.D.
1st Runner up – “Private Wounds and Public Spectacle: Exploring Nonconsensual Pornography in the Context of Public and Private Figures” by Lindsay Gagnon, University of South Dakota.
Advisor – Janet Davison, Ph.D.
2nd Runner up – “Role of Social Support on the Wellbeing of International Students: A Case of a U. S. Private University” by Christian Otchere, Marquette University.
Advisor – Josh Miles, Ph.D.
3rd Runner up – “The Word Digitized for the Modern Church: Exploring the Empowering Potential of Podcasting” by Comfort Nguyongu, Divine Word College.
Advisor – Joshua Young, Ph.D.
4th Runner up – “Toward Understanding the College Students’ Mental Health” by Lizbeth Garcia Tellez, Olivia Ohler, Darta Delecka, and Luis Alvarez, University of Northern Iowa.
Advisor – Sarina Chen, Ph.D.
Research in Progress Panel:
Anonymity and Agency in Professional and Public Discourse.
Dr. Bryan L. Kampbell, Buena Vista
Revenge of the Liberal Arts: Generative AI’s Regeneration of Communication Education’s Relevance.
Dr. Joshua E. Young, Divine Word