Education

2014 University of Pittsburgh, B.A.  
2017 West Virginia University, M.A.
2020 West Virginia University, Ph.D.

View CV (PDF)

Courses Taught

Speech for Business and the Professions
The Dark Side of Interpersonal Communication
Instructional Communication

Career Specialties

Over the past five years, Stephen has developed and taught 12 distinct undergraduate courses, created seven new courses for the Communication & Speech Studies (CSS) program, and developed and taught four graduate courses for the Master of Professional Communication (MAPC) program. He has presented over 20 invited lectures and has had the privilege to advise over 175 undergraduate and graduate students on their capstone and/or independent study projects. His teaching philosophy takes on a developmental perspective that emphasizes “learning by doing” and encourages students to apply lesson concepts to their daily lives through peer discussion, problem-solving, leadership presentations, and personal self-reflection. As for his research interests, his two research emphases – instructional communication and family/conflict communication – may appear disconnected. However, both are deeply intertwined through a common theoretical and practical thread: how humans learn through communication. His research investigates the role of communication in shaping what, how, and why we learn in interpersonal, educational, and professional contexts.

Professional and Community Activities

Throughout the years at the University of Tampa, Stephen has remained an active scholar by publishing 12 peer-reviewed journal article publications, 6 peer-reviewed book chapters, 28 peer-reviewed competitively selected conference presentations, and has been awarded 10 grants totaling $34,996. He has won 10 awards for both his research and teaching including being recognized as the Top 1% of Prolific Scholars in Communication Studies in the world (2017-2021) in a 2021 scholar ranking study.

Stephen has also performed dedicated service to the University of Tampa, the communication studies discipline, and the local community. He has been elected to six University of Tampa leadership roles, including the Communication and Speech Studies (CSS) program director, the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society President, and the CSS hiring chair for three assistant teaching professor positions. He has also participated in 13 service roles for the university such as curriculum committee, honors program committee, and faculty grants committee. He has held five leadership positions within the communication studies discipline, including the 2nd Vice Chair of the Eastern Communication Association regional conference. He has also engaged with the local Tampa Bay community by collaborating with the Humane Society of Tampa Bay to donate over $1000 in funds to animals in need.

Honors and Awards

Top Paper, Instructional Development Division, National Communication Association (2024)
Top Panel, Training & Development Division, National Communication Association (2024)
Top Panel, Training & Development Division, National Communication Association (2023)
Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society Invitation and Induction, University of Tampa Chapter (2023)
Top 1% of Prolific Scholars in Communication Studies (2017-2021), 25th Place, Top 1% in world
Outstanding Faculty Achievement in Teaching Award, College of Arts & Letter (2022)