Paradoxes, Perils, and Promises: Communication and Higher Education in the 21st Century

In this address, Dr. Gallagher lays out a set of paradoxes and questions which she argues characterize higher education in the United States. These paradoxes are based on her dissertation research and her experiences in the various roles she has held in the academy including: faculty member, departmental administrator, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, external program reviewer, and President of SSCA. She then shares thoughts on the opportunities for the Communication discipline, using examples featuring SSCA colleagues and conference programming to provide a sense of the paths we might follow to address these paradoxes in ways that are both productive and ethically significant. The address closes with four suggested guiding principles to inform day-to-day life and work.