School of Communication

The School of Communication develops and enhances understanding of communication processes and their effects on individuals, organizations, culture, and society. The school meets its mission through discovery, learning, and engagement focused on creation, distribution, and interpretation of messages through media systems. We create and share knowledge about the interaction of messages and media within historical, economic, technological, and cultural environments.

What's happening around Shanks Hall

Visionary Voices Lecture with Dr. Katie R. Place: The Importance of Ethical Listening In our latest Visionary Voices lecture, Dr. Katie R. Place shares her expertise on ethical listening, intersectional listening and leadership in communication. Videography by John Garlow
Virginia Tech Students to Explore Global Communication Perspectives in Switzerland In June 2026, Virginia Tech students will travel to Riva San Vitale, Switzerland, with Dawn Jefferies, professor of practice, and Brandi Quesenberry, senior instructor, to explore international perspectives on communication. “As someone who loves teaching and studying communication and reflecting on it and observing it, I do think this program provides you with a special opportunity to fall …
School of Communication’s Annual Visionary Voices Lecture Discusses the Importance of Ethical Listening Students typically associate the study of communication with exceptional writing and speaking skills but underestimate one of its most crucial elements: listening. “Listening is not a soft skill,” said Katie R. Place, who holds a Ph.D. in communication, at the School of Communication’s second annual Visionary Voices lecture on March 26. “It’s a complex skill …