Department of Communication, University of Louisiana at Lafayette

10/24/2026

We loved welcoming future Ragin’ Cajuns and their families to campus for Preview Day! ❤️🤟

Prospective students had the opportunity to explore academic programs, learn about campus life and get a closer look at what UL Lafayette has to offer.

Master Instructor Lindsay Hobbs shared a bit about the Department of Communication, highlighting the opportunities and experiences available to students interested in pursuing a communication degree.

We hope to see some of these future Cajuns in our classrooms soon! 🌶️

10/22/2026

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette's Department of Communication was proud to host the 2026 Swecjmc, Southwest Education Council for Journalism and Mass Communication Symposium last week!

The two-day event brought together journalism and mass communication scholars and students to share research, exchange ideas, and explore developments in the field.

This year's symposium featured several firsts, including a keynote address from Lafayette Mayor-President Monique Boulet and a panel showcasing video productions.

Special thanks to UL Lafayette Associate Professor T. Phillip Madison, SWECJMC immediate past president, for his hard work organizing the symposium, and to UL Lafayette Associate Professor Stephenson Waters, SWECJMC secretary, along with the rest of the faculty, staff, and graduate students who helped make the wonderful event possible.

10/20/2026

The Road to Nationals continues! 🎤🏆

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette Speech & Debate Team is working toward Nationals 2027, and we’re asking our friends, families, alumni, and community to help us get there!

Every tournament, practice, speech, and round brings our students one step closer to representing UL Lafayette on the national stage. Behind those opportunities are travel expenses, tournament costs, and everything it takes to give our students the chance to compete and showcase the work they’ve put in all season.

Our fundraising goal is $37,500, and every contribution helps move us closer. Whether you’re able to give $5, $25, $100, or simply share our fundraiser with someone else, your support makes a difference.

Your donation is an investment in our students, their voices, and the future of a program that has proudly represented UL Lafayette for more than a century. ❤️🌶️

Help us continue the Road to Nationals and make 2027 a year to remember!

Donate today and please share to help us spread the word!

🔗: https://app.moneydolly.com/fundraiser/OYJeBqjl/group/262799/order?utm_source=app&utm_medium=share&utm_campaign=share_qr_code

09/21/2026

🏆 What a way to start the season!

Congratulations to the UL Lafayette Speech and Debate Team, who opened their 126th season of forensics competition by bringing home the Tournament Championship from the Hill Country Swing in San Marcos, Texas!

The team earned 2nd Place Team Sweepstakes on Day 1 and 1st Place Team Sweepstakes on Day 2, along with an impressive list of individual awards.

We’re incredibly proud of our students, coaches, and graduate assistants for representing UL Lafayette so well.

Congratulations, Speech and Debate! 🎤🤟

09/18/2026

CMCN was happy to be part of this afternoon’s gathering! Our own Maria Lambert joined members of the UL Lafayette Alumni Board and Council and College of Liberal Arts faculty and staff for a great afternoon of conversation and connection. ❤️🤟

Great engagement session this afternoon with our UL alumni board and council members and faculty and staff from the College of Liberal Arts. Our intrepid development associate director, Amanda Leblanc, is behind the camera and helped pull the event together along with our associate dean, Jessica Pearce.

08/31/2026

We love seeing our communication faculty recognized for the work they do for our students! ❤️

Master Instructor Lindsay Hobbs was one of just five academic advisors from across the university to receive an Outstanding Advisor Award for the academic year.

Presented by the Academic Success Center, the award recognizes faculty who go above and beyond to advise and mentor students as they work toward their academic and career goals.

Congratulations, Lindsay! 🎉

07/22/2026

Master Instructor Lindsay Hobbs worked with undergraduate and graduate students last week, helping them develop their presentations as part of UL Lafayette’s Training and Experiential Learning in Biomedical Informatics, or TExBioMed.

TExBioMed is a unique program that began at the University of Texas at Arlington and is now continuing at UL Lafayette. This 12-week summer research training program is strategically designed to meet the future needs of the informatics workforce and ultimately expand the talent pool. By participating in this program, students are connected to this prestigious network, opening doors to a wealth of opportunities.

Ms. Hobbs taught the students how to create and deliver speeches based on the research they’ve conducted over the summer on a variety of incredibly relevant topics in the medical field, including mental health issues and the stigma facing treatment in minority communities, the importance of seeking out physical therapy and taking care of your body starting at an early age, and the warning signs and treatment of dementia in young adults.

She will be returning to work with them later this week as they practice their presentations to provide insight into how to communicate their ideas more effectively.

This partnership between the College of Liberal Arts and the College of Sciences demonstrates that great science depends not only on discovery, but also on the ability to clearly communicate ideas that inform, educate, and inspire others.

07/10/2026

Congratulations to recent journalism graduate Kayla Woods-Crane on earning First Place in News Reporting (Student Division) at the Society of Professional Journalists Louisiana’s 2026 Outstanding Journalism Awards in June!

SPJ is one of the nation's oldest and most respected journalism organizations, dedicated to promoting ethical journalism, protecting First Amendment freedoms, and recognizing excellence in reporting. The SPJ Louisiana Outstanding Journalism Awards recognize outstanding work by both professional and student journalists from across the state.

We're incredibly proud of Kayla and all she has accomplished. Congrats on this well-deserved recognition! 👏📰

07/08/2026

This morning, communication instructors Lindsay Hobbs and Maria Lambert participated in an instructor panel for our incoming freshman student-athletes.

The discussion focused on helping students start their college careers strong, covering topics such as academic integrity, responsible AI use, online course etiquette, classroom expectations, and practical tips for academic success.

We're grateful to collaborate with our Athletics team to help prepare these students for the classroom and look forward to seeing all they accomplish at UL Lafayette. Wishing our newest student-athletes a successful first year, and Geaux Cajuns! ❤️🖤

05/14/2026

Congratulations to our outstanding Communication students and faculty! 🎉

The UL Lafayette Department of Communication was proud to celebrate the many achievements of our students and faculty at the College of Liberal Arts Celebration of Academic Excellence.

This semester, we recognized the incredible success of our Speech & Debate Team, who earned dozens of national awards this year under the leadership of Dr. Masey Hammonds. We also celebrated several of our Master’s graduates, including Goodness Okhumode, who will begin her doctoral studies at Purdue University this fall.

The department was also proud to recognize Dr. Lauren Auverset van Gerwen and Dr. Stephenson Waters for earning promotion to Associate Professor.

We are so proud of the hard work, talent, and dedication represented across our department. Congratulations to all who were honored!