Speaker Series

Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center podium with view of audience

Communication Studies Speaker Series

2024-2025 Speaker Series


Diamond E.B. Porter

Headshot of Dr. Diamond Porter

Tuesday, February 18, 2025
5:00-6:15 pm
Jepson Wolff Auditorium

The 2025 Annual Speakers Series Scholar is Diamond E.B. Porter from Washington State University. Her February 18th talk is titled, “Play, Power, and Possibilities: Exploring Identity and Culture through Critical Making and Video Game Narratives."


Dr. Jeremiah Favara Book Launch: Tactical Inclusion

GU Students dressed up in school colors cheering at an athletic event.

Wednesday, April 17, 2024
5:00-6:15 pm
College Commons, HUB 153

Dr. Favara will discuss the crucial role that military recruitment advertising played in making the U.S. military of the most diverse institutions in the United States. Informed by Black feminism, critical race theory, and queer of color critique, the talk will discuss how the military and advertisers deployed a set of strategies called tactical inclusion to connect with new audiences and render them vulnerable to, valuable to, and subject to state violence.


Election '24 Crash Course: What to Know and What to Ask

GU Students dressed up in school colors cheering at an athletic event.

Tuesday, April 9, 2024
4:00-5:30 pm, Hemmingson Auditorium

On April 9, 2024, a panel of experts in the fields of Communications and Political Science explored the historical context of political parties and ideologies, key elections and events to watch out for, and strategies for critically evaluating political communication this election season.


COMM 480 Final Project Presentations

GU Students dressed up in school colors cheering at an athletic event.

Wednesday, December 13, 2023
3:30-5:30 pm, Hemmingson 210

Dr. Click's students have spent the semester doing a deep dive into the subject of "Audiences & Fandom". Join them as they share their final projects.

3:30-4:00: Sports & Athletics

Kate B, "Fans of Gonzaga Women's Basketball"
Konrad G, "Crafting Community through Chrome"
Jessica P & Kate S, "Last Team Standing"
Abby W, "Women in Fandom of Gonzaga Men's Basketball"

4:00-4:30: Online Fan Communities

Ely E, "Gaylor: Representation or Speculation of Taylor Swift's Sexuality"
Anna P & Elizabeth S, "From Screen to Page: Digital Literary Fandom and Colleen Hoover"
Nikki R, "The Ecosystem of Incledom"
Fiona S, "Whoniverse as a Lens for the Universe"

4:30-5:00: Fans of Legacy Media

Bella K, "Hunger Games Fans"
Colby B, "Disney, Race, and High School Musical"
Maddie T, "The Harry Potter Fandom and JK Rowling's Transphobic Remarks"
Madison V, "Beyond the Mask that Brings New Hope"

5:00-5:25: Collectors, Comforters, & Deciders

Evelyn J & Sam M, "An Introductory Research Analysis Into the Squishmallow Fandom"
Johanna S, ""The Comfort Show: Escapism on Repeat"
Arianna T, "Swifties and the Eras Tour"


Political Disinformation in the Anthropocene

Dr. Jeffrey Omari, J.D., Ph.D.

Wednesday, November 29, 2023
4-5 pm, Humanities 153 (College Commons)

Drawing from Anthropocene theory and exploring relevant strategies, Dr. Omari will
offer suggestions for mitigating disinformation and its effects.

Event Flyer