Communication Studies
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- Majors & Minors
- Communication Studies Major
- Organizational Communication Major
- Organizational Communication: Employee Communication
- Organization Communication: Event Management
- Organizational Communication: Strategic Communication
- Organizational Communication: Health Communication
- Media Production Major
- Media Production Minor
- Communication Studies Minor
- Social Media Minor
- Media and Performing Arts Minor
- Internships
- Faculty
Our professors are distinguished scholars, active researchers, published writers, and faithful Christians who demonstrate what it means to be both Christ-followers and leaders in their academic fields. As mentors and role models, they play a huge role in the integration of faith and learning at Bethel.
Department Chair

Peggy Kendall
Department Chair | p-kendall@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1999
Kendall is a recent Fulbright Scholar who spent time in Poland researching issues related to eldercare. Her current field of study examines caregivers, specifically how culture impacts an individual's willingness to care for an aging relative and how COVID-19 has impacted the relationship between caregiver and elder. Her secondary research and writing focuses on how technology impacts faith, relationships, and identity.

Ripley Smith
Professor of Media Communication and Department Chair | r-smith@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2008
Smith has research interests in social networks and socio-cultural adjustment, trust development in partnerships across cultures and organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international crisis intervention processes, and prophetic rhetoric.
Faculty

Betsy Anderson
Associate Professor of Communication Studies | bda92679@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2021
Associate Professor of Communication Studies

Jentine Arkema
Teaching Partner in Communication Studies | j-arkema@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2002
Leadership communication; women in leadership; interpersonal skills/communication; public speaking skills and methods; gender communication; conflict resolution methods, and family communication.

Nancy Brule
Professor of Communication Studies | n-brule@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2004
Brule's research interests include family communication, adolescent/parent communication, high-risk adolescents, conflict, and abusive relationships.

Michael Dreher
Professor of Communication Emeritus | mdreher@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1997
Dreher's research and publishing have focused on political and religious rhetoric, the rhetoric of mathematics and science, and forensic pedagogy. He is also interested in issues of web accessibility and standards.
Kristen Krueger
Adjunct Instructor of Communication Studies | k-krueger@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2019
Adjunct Instructor of Communication Studies
Olivia Lavin
Adjunct Instructor of Communication Studies | oll67684@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2023
Adjunct Instructor of Communication Studies

Jessica Samens
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Communication Studies | j-samens@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2009
Samens' research interests include health communication, focusing on identity after an illness, disclosure of health status, and health disparity.

Christopher Shofner
Associate Professor of Communication Studies | cks75966@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2021
Associate Professor of Communication Studies

Scott Sochay
Associate Professor of Communication Studies | socsco@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1999
Sochay's research and teaching interests include media law, media technology, and Native Americans and the media.