The School of Communication at Chapman University had a strong presence at the Eastern Communication Association (ECA) Convention in Buffalo, NY, from March 26-30, 2025. Our students and faculty showcased their outstanding research and contributions to the field of communication, earning well-deserved recognition and accolades.

Faculty Achievements and Research Excellence

Dr. Sara LaBelle (right) with another Distinguished Research Fellows recipient.

One of the most prestigious honors at the convention was awarded to Dr. Sara LaBelle, who received the ECA 2025 Distinguished Research Fellows Award. This esteemed recognition highlights her exceptional contributions to communication research and her continuous engagement within the ECA community. Congratulations, Dr. LaBelle, on this incredible achievement!

Additionally, Dr. Cailin Kuchenbecker and Dr. Hannah Ball were honored with a Top Paper award from the Applied Communication Interest Group for their co-authored research: “Your Share Could Make a Difference: Facilitating Social Media Engagement of Missing Person Posts Through Timeliness, Empathy, and Respect.”

Recognizing Student Success

PhD student Crystal Nguyen (middle) with her co-author and Chair of the Instructional Communication Interest Group.

Amongst our faculty, several of our graduate students traveled to ECA to present their work. Conferences are more than just opportunities to learn—they’re also a chance to connect, share experiences, and gain new insights. PhD student, Denise Alonso-Pecora shared, “It’s always nice to go to these conferences to hear about different experiences at different institutions.” These gatherings allow participants to see how various educational environments address similar challenges and to learn from each other’s successes and setbacks.

Ph.D. student Crystal Hoang Nguyen was awarded a Top Paper award from the Instructional Communication Interest Group for her co-authored paper, “Colorblindness in the Classroom is a Microaggression: A Dual Autoethnographic Exploration of Identity and Pedagogy.” Crystal shared, “I research culturally diverse families, such as immigrant families, but the paper was truly inspired by the dedication and passion for teaching that my co-author and I share.”

Another group of graduate students from the School of Communication who made impactful contributions with their co-authored paper, presented as part of the Health Communication Interest Group. Denise Alonso-Pecora, Tate Renville, Kayla Loeb, Baylee Crummett, Hannah Ball, and Merrill Buczek collaborated on their research titled: “Comparative Analysis of Formal and Informal Caregivers’ Mental Well-Being: Exploring TRRL in HINTS 6.” Their study revealed that informal caregivers—those offering unpaid care to loved ones—experience significantly higher levels of loneliness and depression than non-caregivers. Interestingly, professional caregivers reported even greater depressive symptoms. The research also found that white informal caregivers reported a lower sense of purpose than their peers from other racial/ethnic backgrounds.

Dr. LaBelle, Kwaku Kyereh, Crystal Nguyen and Denise Alonso-Pecora

Dr. LaBelle, Kwaku Kyereh, Crystal Nguyen and Denise Alonso-Pecora

Ph.D. students Kwaku Kyereh, Crystal Nguyen, and Denise Alonso-Pecora took the stage in a thought-provoking panel discussion titled: “Contemporary Problems in Instructional Communication Research: The Role of Identity-Focused Research as a Creative Solution.” Together, they examined the role of identity in shaping educational experiences—from nontraditional and international students to individuals with disabilities. Their work addressed how these identities impact communication clarity, feedback, and outcomes in the classroom. Audience members joined in a lively discussion, contributing ideas for building a more inclusive, identity-centered approach to instructional communication. Kwaku additionally was able to speak about his own experiences navigating being an international graduate student instructor and international student in the United States. Dr. LaBelle, who served as the Chair for the panel, shared her thoughts on the students’ work: “This panel was presented as part of the Instructional Communication Interest Group. Each of these students did a wonderful job making Chapman proud with their presentations!”

Kwaku also taught a short course titled “Historical Narratives and Theoretical Foundations: A Storyteller’s Approach to Critical Health Communication.” He explained, “For the short course, our discussion centered on creative and history-based approaches to critical health communication. We explored the question, “How do we use history and creative approaches in our health communication scholarship and campaigns? It was an insightful discussion between communication scholars and students who shared enlightening experiences.”

A Proud Moment for the School of Communication

The ECA 2025 Conference was a meaningful and energizing opportunity for our faculty and students to showcase their research, engage in impactful conversations, and proudly represent Chapman University on a national stage. From faculty honors to student-led presentations, the School of Communication made its presence known. Reflecting on her first ECA experience, Crystal shared, “I am very grateful for so many people in SoC for making my first ECA memorable, but specifically, Dr. Sara LaBelle’s support, feedback, and help networking at ECA made this conference very special and productive for me, Denise, and Kwaku.”

Dr. Ball also offered her perspective, highlighting the unique value of the conference: “The Eastern Communication Association’s (ECA) annual conference has a more intimate, collaborative atmosphere compared to some of the larger conferences in our discipline, which can often feel overwhelming—especially for graduate students eager to engage. ECA offers unique opportunities for graduate students to contribute visibly to the field, whether through research presentations, top paper awards, or networking with leading scholars. This year, the School of Communication was even represented by a first-year PhD student facilitating a short course—an honor typically reserved for more senior academics. For me, ECA has been an invaluable space to build meaningful connections and actively contribute to the discipline through leadership roles such as Executive Council member and Editor of Communication Quarterly, ECA’s flagship journal.”

We’re incredibly proud of the talent, commitment, and excellence our community brought to ECA 2025.

To view the full ECA convention program click here.

Congratulations to all who participated—and stay tuned for more stories highlighting the outstanding work of our students and faculty!