Faculty/Staff Directory
First Name
Valerie
Last Name
Peterson
Email
petersov@gvsu.edu
Title
Professor
Website
Office
289 LSH
Phone
616-331-2981
Field of Study
Communication Studies
About
Dr. Peterson teaches courses in visual communication, communication perspectives, critical interpretation, and public speaking. Her single-authored book Sex, Ethics, and Communication: A Humanistic Approach to Conversations on Intimacy, 2nd ed. (Cognella, 2013) won the Media Ecology Association (MEA) Erving Goffman Award for Outstanding Scholarship in the Ecology of Social Interaction. Dr. Peterson’s recent publications include scholarly essays on political speech (Explorations in Media Ecology, 2021), sight and humanity (Explorations in Media Ecology, 2019), the use of nudity in political protest (2018), literacy, and Plato’s understanding of “the good” (Review of Communication, 2017), mythic rhetoric (Ohio Journal of Communication, 2014), the media ecology of birth control (Explorations in Media Ecology, 2010), and interdisciplinarity (Women and Language, 2008). Other publications have addressed topics such as communication theory (Journal of the Northwest Communication Association, 2004; Grand Valley Review, 2004), the rhetorical criticism of visuals (Southern Communication Journal, 2001), the use of subject position in argumentation (Communication Studies, 2003), sex/sexuality/sexual politics (Journal of Popular Culture, 2008; America Viewed and Skewed: Television Situation Comedies, 2005; Journal of Communication Inquiry, 2002; Women and Language, 2000), and pedagogy (Explorations in Media Ecology, 2022, Communication Teacher, 2006; The Successful Professor, 2004; Teaching Ideas for the Basic Communication Course, 2001; Iowa Journal of Communication, 1996). Awards and honors include The Louis ForsdaleAward for Outstanding Educator in the Field of Media Ecology, MEA, 2016; ; Keynote Address on Communication and Ethics at the Social Action Conference at Central Michigan University, 2014; GVSU International Student’s Pineapple Award, 2010; GVSU Student Senate Last Lecture, 2010; and National Communication Association Best Competitive Paper Award, Visual Communication Division, 2001
Office Hours
M 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. By VIRTUAL and appointment
T/TH 11:30
a.m. - 12:30 p.m. By VIRTUAL and appointment
Teaches
Visual communication, communication perspectives, critical interpretation, and public speaking.
Degrees
B. A. and M. A. University of Virginia; Ph. D. University of Iowa
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