Faculty and Staff Directory

Dr. Amy Arellano is a social justice scholar at Boise State University, serving as Associate Professor in Communication and Assistant Director of Forensics. They use poetry for advocacy and liberation, practicing a pedagogy of love. Amy expands their classroom by volunteering weekly to teach argumentation to incarcerated individuals. Their work includes two poetry publications critiquing the political war on women and Title IX, plus an upcoming book, Poetic Protest: A Journey in Advocacy and Love.

Dr. Seth Ashley joined the department in 2011. His work explores the role of media in society, focusing on media systems and individual literacies. He is author of the book News Literacy and Democracy as well as a range of journal publications. Before receiving his PhD from the University of Missouri School of Journalism, he worked as a writer and editor for newspapers and magazines, and as a designer and technician for theater, film and music.

Teaching:

• Interpersonal Communication
• Public Speaking

Dr. Cody Coker, an organizational communication teacher-scholar, studies how marginalized groups organize. He examines how individuals navigate dominant discourses, work-life balance, emotional expression, and remote work challenges. Dedicated to applied teaching, he mentors students through community partnerships. His research has appeared in renowned journals like Computers in Human Behavior and Communication Studies. Dr. Coker earned his Ph.D. from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, his M.A. from Texas State University, and his B.A. from Sam Houston State University.

Frances joined Boise State University’s adjunct faculty in April 2018. She holds a Communication undergraduate degree, an MBA, and graduate certificates in Conflict Management and College Teaching from Boise State. She is a Project Manager at Zions Bancorporation with nineteen years in banking. Frances volunteers with Junior Achievement, teaching students about business and finance. In her free time, she enjoys quilting, traveling, skiing in McCall, and spending time with her husband and daughters.

Teaching: Fundamentals of Oral Communication

Justin Fields began teaching at Boise State in January 2023. He holds a B.A. in Communication from Boise State and an M.A. in Communication and Leadership from Gonzaga University. He is the Development Manager at Iowa Mediation Service, where he works as an educator and conflict management practitioner. He’s passionate about helping others build communication and conflict resolution skills,  and Justin also enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and children.

Dr. Hicks joined the Boise State faculty in 2011 after earning her Ph.D. at Bowling Green State University. As director of the Boise State University Speech and Debate Team, Hicks has led the program to multiple national championships and is the 2015 recipient of the E.R. Nichols national award for excellence in forensics education. Her research focuses on meaning at the intersection of gender, culture, and lived experience.

Marisa Hill has been teaching at Boise State since 2005. Her teaching and research interests explore political rhetoric, intercultural communication, and public speaking across cultures. She has taught at several universities and was a Fulbright-Hays participant in Taiwan. Marisa is an avid fan of college football, chips and salsa, and exploring the outdoors with her family.

Teaching: COMM 101: Fundamentals of Oral Communication

Matthew Isbell is a professor of Organizational Communication at Boise State. His research interests are in collaboration, nonprofit organizations, and program implementation/change. As a scholar, Dr. Isbell works with populations around many of the intractable problems in our communities. Dr. Isbell’s work is published in journals, including Communication Theory, Communication Monographs, Management Communication Quarterly and the American Journal of Public Health. He is also the co-author of the book Interorganizational Collaboration: Complexity, Ethics, and Communication.

Melissa Klassen has taught at the collegiate level since 1996 and has worked as an organizational consultant and professional speech coach. Melissa is a Lecturer teaching Honors COMM 101, Public Speaking, Advanced Public Presentation and Small Group Communication. Melissa loves to help students find their voice and reach their full potential.

Dr. Julie Lane is a mass communication historian who studies media narratives, focusing on conservative media’s role in shaping perceptions of liberal bias. Her research appears in Journalism History, American Journalism, and The Blue Review. She holds a Ph.D. from Wisconsin-Madison, an M.A. from Texas-Austin, and a B.A. from Indiana University. Previously, she worked in government, public affairs, and law firm communications. She teaches media and society courses.

Dr. Sarah Lausch has taught in the Communication Department since 2021. She holds a master’s in Communication and a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction. As a full-time Educational Development Consultant, she helps faculty with course design and teaching. Her research focuses on the Scholarship of Educational Development, and she values student feedback to enhance her courses. Outside work, she enjoys skiing, running, and kayaking.

Teaching: Fundamentals of Oral Communication

Tom Lobaugh has taught listening, interpersonal communication, hospitality, and ethics at Boise State since 2013. He holds degrees from Whitworth University, Princeton Seminary, and Columbia Seminary and is pursuing a Ph.D. in psychology and performance. His research explores listening’s transformative power, humor in athletics, and cultural-religious hospitality. Author of Broken Hearts, Open Doors, he founded Inspire Excellence. Tom enjoys time with Kathy, their children, and grandchildren.

Teaching: Conflict Management and Contact Information

Teaching: Interviewing

Mark Nagle is a Lecturer in Communication, teaching COMM 101: Fundamentals of Oral Communication and COMM 248: Communication Perspectives. He earned his PhD in Rhetoric and Public Culture from Indiana University in 2018. His research focuses on rhetoric, photography, and public address, while his teaching emphasizes rhetorical pedagogy and critical media literacy. He enjoys designing experiences that help students take risks, connect with peers, and grow as communicators and thinkers.

Anna New has taught in the Department of Communication since 2014, serving as a Lecturer and currently as Director of the Communication 101 Program. She earned her BA and MA in Communication and a Graduate Certificate in College Teaching from Boise State. Anna is dedicated to fostering a welcoming and supportive classroom environment that encourages students to challenge themselves, achieve academic growth, and build the skills necessary for success in their personal and professional lives.

Teaching: Fundamentals of Oral Communication

Kelly Rossetto is a Professor in the Communication Department. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin, an M.A. from the University of Montana, and a B.A. from UC Davis. An expert in coping and resilience, she has edited two books and published widely. She enjoys teaching interpersonal and family communication, resilience, social media in relationships, research methods, and other interpersonal communication topics.

Stela Saltaga is a lecturer in the Department of Communication. She received both her Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Communication from Boise State University. She is currently teaching COMM101 in the spring and fall as well as COMM341 during the summer.

Rachel E. Silverman (she/her) received her PhD from the University of South Florida and is currently an assistant professor of communication in the Department of Communication at Boise State University. Dr. Silverman’s teaching and research interests focus on women’s health narratives, memory and memorialization practices of traumatic events, and representations of gender, sexuality, and religion in popular culture. She is the co-founder and co-editor of Feminist Pedagogy, a peer-reviewed journal that publishes intersectional teaching strategies.

Tabitha Simenc is an adjunct instructor in the Department of Communication, teaching Comm 101. She received her undergraduate degree in Mass Communication/Journalism and graduate degree in Communication, both from Boise State. She enjoys helping students hone their skills to improve communication in both their personal and professional lives.

Amanda Soza (Korporaal) teaches as an adjunct faculty member. She received both her Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Communication from Boise State University. Amanda is committed to fostering an environment where everyone is welcome, and where students can not only learn the material, but be able to apply it in their everyday lives.

Teaching: Communication and Culture and Intercultural Communication

Dr. Cassidy Taladay-Carter primarily studies and teaches about interpersonal, family, and health communication. She explores how individuals, families, and communities communicate to make sense of losses and grief across the lifespan, including in terminal illness and bereavement, chronic illness, and major transitions. She enjoys teaching classes on interpersonal and family communication, grief, narratives, community engagement, and more. Dr. Taladay-Carter earned her B.J., M.A., and PhD from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Thérése Woozley earned a MA in Communication and a Graduate Certificate in College Teaching at Boise State University. She teaches communication courses involving media, culture, and technology, and fosters inclusive classrooms and practical application of course concepts. Her classes include COMM 101, COMM 160, COMM 211, COMM 351.