USC Aiken Professor Takes Helm of Southern States Communication Association

Aiken, SC (04/28/2018) — Dr. Jason Munsell, associate professor of communication at the University of South Carolina Aiken, was inducted as the president of the Southern States Communication Association during the organization's annual convention in Nashville, earlier this month.

"Jason is in his first year at USC Aiken. He planned the SSCA conference without letting his job as conference planner interfere with the quality of his teaching or his relationships here," said Dr. Charmaine Wilson, chair of the USC Aiken Department of Communication.

"I was most impressed that, throughout the planning process, Jason did an excellent job in the classroom, supported our departmental initiatives, and became involved in campus activities.

"We are fortunate to have him here."

Originally from Tahlequah, Okla., Munsell received his B.A. and M.A. from the University of Arkansas in communication and his Ph.D. from Louisiana State University in speech communication with a focus on rhetoric and public address. His research interests focus on the scholarship of teaching and learning, the history of rhetoric and communication pedagogy and the rhetoric of tourism. His recent work has appeared in such journals as Communication Teacher and Carolinas Communication Annual.

Prior to coming to USC Aiken, Munsell spent 14 years teaching at Columbia College and was the 2010 and 2012 winner of the Columbia College Student's Choice Award for Teaching Excellence. He was also the 2012 Columbia College winner of the South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities Teaching Excellence Award.

Munsell was the 2011 and 2013 Ray Camp Research Award Winner for the Top Faculty Paper at the Carolinas Communication Association. He was also selected for the Betty Jo Welch Award from the Carolinas Communication Association for service in 2012.

He is a past president of the Carolinas Communication Association and recently finished his term as editor for the Carolinas Communication Annual. Before becoming president of the SSCA while in Nashville, he was elected the second vice president of the organization in 2016.

As first vice president of SSCA, Munsell led the planning efforts for the 88th Annual Convention Southern States Communication Association.

SSCA promotes "the study, criticism, research, teaching, and application of the artistic, humanistic, and scientific principles of communication," according to its website. The organization boasts approximately 2,000 members from institutions with communication programs throughout the Southeast. The conference -- "Muses and Musings in the Music City" -- featured more than 200 panels and informational sessions.

"Most of us don't think about all the effort that goes into planning a five-day event. It is a huge job, and Jason's efforts resulted in an outstanding conference - one of the largest the association has had," Wilson said.

"A look at the program shows the multitude of diverse presentations and discussions that helped communication scholars and students better understand the discipline."

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