Washburn Communication Studies Department

05/17/2026

Congratulations to our MA, BA, and our first ever B.Ed. In Speech and Theatre grads. Washburn spring 2026 commencement is in the books!

05/01/2026

Another Spring Celebration in the books. It was a wonderful evening filled with awards, recognition, great food, and most of all, amazing students. ! 💙

(Special thanks to Dr. Carson Kay for taking pictures!)

12/13/2025

Congratulations to our fall 2025 graduates!

08/21/2025

Let’s convocate!

12/14/2024

Only one Comm Studies graduate this evening at WU’s College of Arts and Sciences fall ceremony, but what a student. Stephanie Vanetti—you did us proud with that commencement speech, and we are so proud of you! 💙

11/24/2024

Another National Communication Association (NCA) conference comes to an end. The “Comm Bods” represented the university well, and probably most importantly, we had amazing beignets 😛. Congratulations Dr. Adebayo and Dr. Kay on your excellent presentations!🥳

10/31/2024

Dr. S on WIBW this evening!

There are many places to get candidates information and one of the most common places is right at your fingertips.

10/24/2024

We have a brand new tenure-track position open in our department. Come work with us, and spread the word!

Position Title: Assistant Professor (Communication Studies) Department: Communication Studies Campus Location: Washburn University The screening committee will review all eligible applications submitted by November 13, 2024. Position Summary: Washburn University invites applications for an Assistant...

05/12/2024

Congratulations, Danielle!

TOPEKA (KSNT) – April’s Everything Woman honoree Danielle Hall was born and raised in Topeka. Hall went to college in the Capital City, and ultimately decided to stay to develop her pro…

05/12/2024

Congratulations to our spring and summer graduates who participated in commencement today. We have had so much to celebrate as a department this year. I’m ecstatic to add two additional university honors announced today: our own Gena Michaelis was the College’s student speaker this afternoon, and Eleanor Jones (major in History and competitor on our mock trial team) was the CAS Sibberson Award winner! 💙🥳

05/01/2024

We had such a great turn out last week for our annual Spring Celebration at the Zoo. Our thanks to everyone who attended to celebrate all of our amazing students and the significant achievements made during this last year. Special recognition was provided to the following students. !

Outstanding Communication Students
Mia Albert
Marco Flores
Luzianne Stafford

Department Scholarship Recipients
Helen Lyon Peterson Memorial Scholarship: Grace Keating
Toni McCorkill Boyles Scholarship: Grace Keating
Charles Arthur Fulcher Scholarship: Olivia Fieger
Meredith A. Moore Communication Award: Olivia Fieger
The Dandridge Scholarship: Cade Blenden and Charlize Easter

Dean’s Scholarship Recipients
Olivia Fieger
Grace Keating

Robert Nall Speak Off Winners
Mason Fair
(Fall 2023)
Khalani Britt
(Spring 2024)

2024 Lambda Pi Eta Inductees
Cade Blenden
Aubree Dewey
Olivia Fieger
Marco Flores
Grace Keating
Kya Tenbrink
Stephanie Vannetti
Andrew Woodward
Claudia Fury
Kylar Slapar
Alexandra Younger
Ethan Schmitz

Fall ‘23 Graduates
Essa Aldarbi
Hunter Castillo
Graduated with Department Honors
Sarah Cavallaro
Graduated with Department Honors
Abby Schlegel
Graduating with Department Honors
Luzianne Stafford
Graduated with Department Honors
Ferry Jenn Torres
Graduated with Department Honor
Raegan Wells

Spring/Summer ‘24 Graduates
Mary Albert
Graduating with Department Honors
Elizabeth Duvall
Graduating with Department Honors
Marco Flores
Graduating with Department Honors
Rachel Henry
Rachel Holland
Graduating with Department Honors
Genevieve Michaelis
Graduating with Department Honors
Levi Sieben
Graduating with Department Honors
Kya Tenbrink
Graduating with Department Honors
Zoey Blissett
Graduating with Department Honors
Megan Bond
Graduating with Department Honors
Aubree Dewey
Graduating with Department Honors
Vanessa Guzman-Slater

Graduating M.A. Students
Shayla Conner
Khiry Cooper
Tommy Grice
Stephanie Haag
Sarah Holt
Lacey Roberts

Washburn Debate Team Members
Daniel Archer
Jacob Bailes
Cade Blenden
Wendo Kimori
Braxton Kindel
Logan Michael
Maddox Misak
Alfonso Rascon
Andrew Rea
Ethan Soto
Hunter Squires
Jyaira Ware
Jenna Gorton (Graduate Asst. Coach)

Washburn Mock Trial Team Members
Jacob Howell
Elizabeth Cox
Cameron Billquist
Wade Larson
Yvonne Razo Alatorre
Dalton Shrum
Gabriella Griffin
Robert Smith
Daniel Shaffer
Lillian Clark
Michael Gallegos
Aurnia Lloyd
Luke Phelps-Roper
Ivalea Tien