Cassandra Hill, Ph.D.
Dean & Associate Professor of Communication
Office
M411
Contact
Cassandra.Hill@finlandia.edu
(906) 487-7283
Joined Finlandia
2022
Education
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison (2015)
M.A., Cal. State University-Fullerton (2010)
B.A., Cal. State University-Fullerton (2008)
Hours
Tuesdays 9-12, Wednesdays 11-12:30, & by appointment
Current Courses
COM 108
COM 350
COM/REL 250
ARD 329
Biography
I love inspiring the curious, translating complex information/ideas into meaningful and widely accessible content, and turning multifaceted processes and problems into feasible solutions for programmatic and operational success. I believe any educator, trainer, or learning specialist must be a learning enabler via the strategic use of data-driven learning design and storytelling.
A leader with a passion for the science and art of communication, my educational journey was anything but ordinary. As a nontraditional student, I entered the field of communication after five years of working in the NGO sector in Western Australia. Gaining a passion for teaching/training and communication during these years abroad, I returned to the U.S. and completed my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in California. I earned my doctorate in communication sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, focusing on interpersonal communication, deliberation, and social influence. Before joining the faculty at FinnU, I ventured coast-to-coast. After a few years as an assistant professor at Cal. Poly-San Luis Obispo in California, I was brought to Coastal Carolina University to assist with proposing and establishing a graduate program in leadership and communication activism. On this path, I helped establish the graduate teaching assistant program, was awarded early tenure and promotion, and eventually became Associate Chair of Communication, Media, & Culture. I later joined Finlandia University as an Associate Professor and Dean. My research and professional development agenda explore advice and decision-making communication in varied contexts, persuasion, communication and social justice advocacy, and inter-generational communication.
An adventurer at heart, you'll find me on a trail (hiking boots, snowshoes, or cross-country skis in tow), in a kayak, playing trivia, making order out of chaos, lifting weights, and traveling in my free time.
STRENGTHS/PROFILES
Clifton Strengths: Strategic · Learner · Individualization · Analytical · Includer
VIA Institute: Leadership · Appreciation of Beauty & Excellence · Love of Learning · Perspective · Self Regulation · Prudence · Honesty · Kindness · Love · Fairness · Judgment · Hope · Curiosity
Areas of Interest / Speciality
Modern Human Communication
Introduction to Communication Studies
Persuasion (undergraduate and graduate)
Communication Theory
UNIV 110: First-Year Experience
Family Communication
Intercultural Communication (Study Abroad)
Persuasion and Influence in the Digital Age
Research Methods
Intercultural Communication
Public Speaking
Interpersonal Communication
Group Communication Theory
Professional Communication
Professional & Technical Writing
Senior Thesis/Capstone Project
Independent Study (Leadership & Persuasion; Gender & Difference; graduate Level)
Communication Pedagogy
Communication in Time Management
Favorite Quotes
"Stop acting so small. You are the universe in ecstatic motion." -Rumi
"Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you." - Ruth Bader Ginsburg
"Communication seems to work best when it is so direct and so simple that it has a sort of elegance." - John P. Kotter
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelou
"The two most powerful warriors are patience and time." - Tolstoy
Curriculum Vitae
Coastal Carolina University (2017-2022)
California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo (2015-2017)
The University of Wisconsin, Madison (2010-2015)
California State University-Fullerton (2008-2010)
Professional Memberships
National Communication Association (NCA)
Central States Communication Association (CSCA)
National Council on Family Relations (NCFR)
Certifications
Certified V.S.P. (Victim’s Service Provider) by S. Carolina State Attorney General’s Office & SCDVASA (2020)
Publications
Carlson-Hill, C. L., & Johnson, D. (2023 release date). Comprehensive Exams. In R. Yazure, R. & Strawser, M. (Eds.) Interdisciplinary Approaches to Culminating Student Experiences. Wilmington, Delaware: Vernon Press.
MacGeorge, E. L., Branch, S. E., Carlson-Hill, C. L., Tian, X., Caldes, E. P., Miskovsky, M., Beatty, S., & Brinker, D. (2018). Verbal person-centeredness in interaction: Connecting micro-and macro-level operationalization. Journal of Language and Social Psychology.
Carlson-Hill, C. L. (2018). “Advice in families.” In L. VanSwol & E. MacGeorge (Eds.) The Oxford handbook of advice (pp. 135-152). Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.
Van Swol, L. M., Carlson-Hill, C. L., & Acosta-Lewis, E. E. (2018). Integrative complexity, participation, and agreement in group discussions. Small Group Research.
Van Swol, L. M., & Carlson, C. L. (2017). Language use and influence among minority, majority, and homogeneous group members. Communication Research: Intergroup Communication Special Issue.
Van Swol, L. M., Prahl, A., Kolb, M., Acosta-Lewis, E., & Carlson, C. L. (2016). The language of extremity: Extreme members and how the presence of extremity affects group discussion. Journal of Language and Social Psychology.
Carlson, C. L. (2016). Predicting emerging adults’ implementation of parental advice: The influence of source, situation, relationship, and message characteristics. Western Journal of Communication.
Van Swol, L. M., Braun, M. T., Acosta-Lewis, E. E., Carlson, C. L., & Dimperio, G. (2015). Discussion of shared information can increase the influence of divergent group members. Communication Research.
Toma, C. & Carlson, C. L. (2015). How do Facebook users believe they come across in their profiles? A meta-perception approach to investigating Facebook self-presentation. Communication Research Reports.
Carlson, C. L. (2014). Seeking self-sufficiency: Why emerging adult college students receive and implement parental advice. Emerging Adulthood: Special Issue on Communication.
Awards & Recognitions
Journal of Autoethnography Article of the Year Award (2021)
Central States Communication Association Top Panel Award (March 2021)
Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching (2019), Coastal Carolina U.
Dennis Gouran Research Award (2018), National Communication Association
Department Chair’s Teaching Award (2018) Coastal Carolina U.
Panhellenic Outstanding Faculty Award (May 2016) Cal-Poly U.
National Communication Association Top Paper Award (Nov. 2014)
National Communication Association Top Paper Award (Nov. 2013)
Helen K. Herman Award (May 2012), U. of Wisconsin-Madison
Honored Instructors Award (May 2012), U. of Wisconsin-Madison
Antonia Marie Paula Bapat-Zaat Graduate Award (May 2009), Cal-State Fullerton
Conference Presentations
Carlson-Hill, C.L. & DeHaan, D. (2023, April). Relevant, but “from a different time and place:” Parent perceptions of advice topic, relevance, and solicitation when supporting emerging adult children. Under review for the Central Communication Association annual conference in St. Louis, MO.
Carlson-Hill, C. L. (2022, November). Sibling advice via mediated technology. Presented at the National Communication Association annual conference in New Orleans, LA.
Carlson-Hill, C. L. & Dotson, K. (2022, November). Assessing the hyflex format for large lecture courses: Persuasion in the university core. Presented at the National Communication Association annual conference in New Orleans, LA.
Carlson-Hill, C. L. (2022, November). The spaces in-between: An autoethnographic exploration of grief in the loss of a uterus. Presented at the National Communication Association annual conference in New Orleans, LA.
Carlson-Hill, C. L. (2022, April). Activism, Organizing, and Social Justice Research in Moments of Upheaval: Who We Are Becoming. Presented at the Central States Communication Association annual conference in Madison, WI.
Carlson-Hill, C. L., Bergstrom, A., Dalelio, C., DeHaan, D., & Suddreth, S. (2022, April). Parent-to-parent advice: [Re]Connection in an online support group for parents of adolescents and emerging adults. Presented at the Central States Communication Association annual conference in Madison, WI.
Carlson-Hill, C. L. (2021, March). Inspiring best practices in program review and assessment. Top Panel Award (Undergraduate Education and Administration Section). Presented at the Central States Communication Association (virtual) conference.
Carlson-Hill, C. L. (2020, January). Highlighting numbers: Students stalking faculty and the impacts of a flawed system. Presented at the International Association of Autoethnography and Narrative Inquiry annual conference in St. Petersburg, FL.
Carlson-Hill, C. L., & Morningred, S. M. (2018, February). Tell me what will work: Predicting emerging adult perceptions of advice quality and implementation. Presented at the Western States Communication Association annual conference in Santa Clara, CA.
Burks, C., & Carlson-Hill, C. L. (2018, February). Moving on from here: Perceived apology sincerity and forgiveness in emerging adult romantic relationships. Presented at the Western States Communication Association annual conference in Santa Clara, CA.
MacGeorge, E. L., Branch, S. E., Carlson, C. L., et al. (2016, November). Verbal person-centeredness in supportive interactions: Associations with specific support provider behaviors. Presented at the National Communication Association annual conference in Philadelphia.
Van Swol, L. M., Prahl, A., Kolb, M. Carlson, C. L., & Acosta-Lewis, E. (2016, November). The language of extremity: Extreme members and how the presence of extremity affects group discussion. Presented at the National Communication Association annual conference in Philadelphia.
Carlson, C. L. & Van Swol, L. M. (2015, November). “You just wouldn’t understand!” The effects of empathic message expression and advice situation on emerging adults’ perceptions of and willingness to comply with parental advice. Presented at the National Communication Association annual conference in Las Vegas.
Carlson, C. L. (2014, November). The presence of our past: Predicting emerging adult perceptions and implementation of parental advice-giving. Presented at the National Communication Association annual conference in Chicago.
Van Swol, L. M., Carlson, C. L., & Acosta-Lewis, E.E. (2014, November). Integrative complexity, dissent, and influence in group discussions. Presented at the National Communication Association annual conference in Chicago.
Van Swol, L. M., Braun, M., Acosta-Lewis, E. E., Carlson, C. L., & Dimperio, G. (2013, November). Minority influence and group discussions of controversial issues (II). Presented at the National Communication Association annual conference in Washington, D. C.
Toma, C. & Carlson, C. L. (2012, May). I’m so much cooler online: An examination of self-presentation in Facebook profiles. Presented at annual convention of the International Communication Association national conference, Phoenix, AZ.
Van Swol, L. M., Braun, M., Lewis-Acosta, E., Dimperio, G, & Carlson, C. L. (2011, July). The pull of deviant views: Minority influence and communication in group discussions of controversial issues (I). Presented at annual InGroup national conference, Minneapolis, MN.
Carlson, C. L. (2010, November). Building bridges between the nature of religious appeals and the individuals receiving them. Presented at the annual convention of the National Communication Association in San Francisco, CA.