CSU Department of Communication Studies

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CSU Department of Communication Studies

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09/02/2026

The semester is in full swing! Hear from current and former Communication Studies students on their best advice for making the most of the semester.

08/24/2026

Happy first day of classes! 💚 🐏

Thank you to everyone who made Ram Welcome such a great kickoff to the semester on Friday. We can’t wait to hear your voices, share your stories, and watch you connect with the world in new ways this semester. Here’s to a great year!

06/29/2026

Last month, Meghan Cosgrove successfully defended her dissertation and earned her Ph.D.! 🎉

“My dissertation, ‘Breaking the cycle: The experiences of justice-impacted peer recovery coaches and clients’ was a community-engaged project that I am proud to have completed. This project was a culmination of my time not only at CSU, but years spent teaching in Colorado correctional facilities for the University of Colorado Denver’s Prison Education Program. I am grateful to have celebrated my completion of that work with both my dissertation and graduation! This study was important to me because I was able to celebrate the meaningful (and often invisible) work peer recovery coaches perform in our community and create opportunities for traditionally underserved community members to share their stories,” said Cosgrove.

“This project would not have been possible without the unwavering support and brilliance of my advisor, Dr. Elizabeth Williams, and committee, Drs. Katie Knobloch, Ziyu Long, and Tara Opsal. I’d also like to thank Dr. Natalie Pennington, as she was instrumental in my completing this program. My time at CSU has truly been a gift, and I am deeply grateful to have had the opportunity to explore my curiosities in such a collaborative and supportive community. In addition to my academic gratitude, I’d like to thank my loved ones (people and dogs!)—Charley, Mom, Dad, Sophie, OJ, Cowboy, Re*****on, and Rusty—for going on this adventure with me and filling my life with joy.”

Incredible work, Dr. Cosgrove! Post-CSU, she will continue teaching and serving her community through education, joining the Professional Effectiveness Division in the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder as an Assistant Teaching Professor. Congratulations, Dr. Cosgrove! We are so proud of you and can’t wait to see the impact you’ll make. 💚

06/05/2026

We are thrilled to celebrate Court Fallon, who successfully defended their dissertation and earned their Ph.D. last month!

Dr. Fallon shared a bit about their work:

“My dissertation, ‘Beyond the Rainbow: On Rural Q***r Rhetoric,’ introduces rural q***r rhetoric as a theoretical framework that elucidates place and class as critical animators of gender, sexuality, and race in contemporary LGBTQ+ politics in the United States. This project brings together three case studies on Chappell Roan’s Midwest Princess persona, a rural LGBTQ+ campout, and speeches by rural transgender folks in conservative U.S. state legislatures to explore the ways in which rural q***r rhetorics work with, against, and despite metronormative narratives about LGBTQ+ identity and belonging. This work speaks to ongoing interdisciplinary conversations in rhetorical, performance, and gender and sexuality studies about worldmaking, place, and intersectional inquiry.”

Amazing work! In addition to this milestone, Dr. Fallon was awarded a Summer 2026 Dissertation Completion Fellowship from and will soon bring their expertise to the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater at Rock County as an Assistant Professor of Communication beginning Fall 2026.

Congratulations, Dr. Fallon! We are so proud of you and can’t wait to see the impact you’ll make. 🎉💛

05/28/2026

Earlier this month, Kylie Johnson successfully defended her dissertation and earned her Ph.D.!

“My dissertation, “Friendships on the Fringe: Investigating Challenging Support Provision and the Associated Individual and Relational Health Outcomes,” builds on my earlier work exploring how people navigate difficult moments in supportive relationships. During my time at CSU, I investigated how support providers create boundaries around the amount and/or type of support they are willing to offer their friends. I also developed the concept of deceptive/reluctant support, which offers insight into how people may offer help when they don’t want to and/or in ways that do not align with what they think or feel. In my dissertation, I examined how the challenges providers experience and the strategies they use to navigate them impact both their individual well-being and the health of their friendships. Understanding these dynamics can help identify ways to improve communication, strengthen relationships, reduce harm, and potentially prevent friendships from falling apart altogether," said Johnson.

"I am deeply grateful to my advisor, Dr. Meara Faw, for being an exceptional mentor and collaborator throughout my six years at CSU, as well as to my dissertation committee for their guidance and support. I also extend my appreciation to the graduate students in our department, who consistently show up for one another with care, encouragement, and a shared commitment to making difficult moments feel more manageable. Finally, I want to thank every friend who has been part of my life. They sparked the curiosity that led me to this work and challenged me to think more deeply about how to care for others while also caring for myself. I am a better person—and a better friend—because of them.”

Congratulations Dr. Johnson! We are so proud of you. 🥹💚

05/17/2026

Congratulations, Comm Studies grads! 🎓

We’re so proud of everything you’ve accomplished and can’t wait to see all the wonderful things you will continue to do.

The world is yours! 💚💛

05/14/2026

The final Comm Connect of the semester is here! See what's ahead this summer and how to stay connected with the Comm Studies community. 🌞

https://new.express.adobe.com/webpage/gsypm25b7xa6W

05/13/2026

Congratulations to our amazing Department of Communication Studies CLA award winners for 2026! 👏🎉⁠

✨ Meara Faw, Associate Professor - Excellence in Engaged Scholarship Award
✨ Kylie Johnson, Graduate Teaching Assistant - Excellence in Teaching Award
✨ Chris Gallegos, Academic Success Coordinator - Impact and Inspiration Award

You make us so proud! Check out the link in our bio to learn more about this year's winners.

05/08/2026

Good luck with finals, Rams and have an amazing summer! ☀️

05/05/2026

Thank you, Jo Carroll, for sharing your CSU journey with us, and congratulations on receiving the Albert C. Yates Award! Were excited to see all that you accomplish after graduation!

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http://communicationstudies.colostate.edu/

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