Dr. Stephen Spates

Department

Communication

Role: Faculty
Campus: Springfield

Postal mail

Missouri State University
Communication
901 S. National Ave.
Springfield, MO 65897

Biography

Dr. Stephen Spates is an award-winning Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication. His primary research focuses on organizational communication within health environments. Specifically, Dr. Spates looks to explain and predict communication behaviors of individuals, or teams, who work in hospitals or medical centers. His secondary research focuses on exploring source credibility of information disseminated in the Black community. He has published research in academic journals such as Southern Communication Journal, Communication Teacher, Communication Studies, Howard Journal of Communications, Frontiers in Communication, and Communication Research Reports.

In the classroom, Dr. Spates holds an exceptional teaching record and is recognized as an outstanding teacher by the Central States Communication Association. Dr. Spates puts his research into application through community workshops on diversity communication, family dynamics, and spiritual communication. He has partnered with several community organizations as well as campus organizations like the Center for Dispute Resolution. His success in the community continues to grow as the lead researcher on a grant (worth over $500,000) from the United States Department of Homeland Security. The grant will be used to provide educational resources to help individuals learn about bias and discrimination.

Details

Education

  • PhD, Communication and Information, 2017, The University of Tennessee – Knoxville
  • MA, Communication Studies, 2012, Western Michigan University
  • BA, Communication Arts, 2009, Oakwood University – HBCU

Teaching

  • COM 206 Introduction to Health Communication
  • COM 260 Communicating with Cultural Competence
  • COM 336 Communication in Organizations
  • COM 338 Communication Strategies for Recruitment in Organizations
  • COM 617 Communication and Diversity in the Workplace
  • COM 597/698 Studies in Communication Theory and Practice
  • COM 712 Quantitative Research Methods in Communication
  • COM 736 Concepts and Analysis of Communication in Organizations

Professional experience

Professional affiliations

  • Central States Communication Association (CSCA)
  • International Communication Association (ICA)
  • National Communication Association (NCA)
  • Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Rho Sigma Sigma Chapter
  • Campus Advisor, Phi Beta Sigma, Rho Chi Chapter
  • Campus Advisor, Zeta Phi Beta, Theta Pi Chapter

Research and professional interests

  • Organizational communication
  • Workplace diversity
  • Communication in healthcare
  • Communication dynamics in spirituality
  • Strategies for classroom community

Awards and honors

  • Pearson and Nelson Outstanding New Teacher Award, Central States Communication Association, 2022
  • Top Research Paper, Instructional Development Division, NCA, 2021
  • The ComBotLabs Award, Communication and Technology Interest Group, CSCA, 2020
  • Alpha Delta Pi (MSU Chapter), Teacher of the Month, Missouri State University, November, 2019
  • Special Recognition of Service (Newsletter Editor), Central States Communication Association, 2019-2020
  • Special Recognition of Service (Legislative Assembly), National Communication Association, 2018-2020
  • Outstanding Graduate Faculty Member, Department of Communication, Missouri State University, 2017-2018
  • Summer Research Grant Recipient, Missouri State University, 2017
  • 120 Faces of Oakwood University-Special Recipient, Oakwood University, 2017
  • Bernard King CCI Scholarship, The University of Tennessee, 2015
  • Courage to Climb Leadership Award, Student Life-The University of Tennessee, 2014
  • ESPN Award of Student Excellence in Scholarship, The University of Tennessee, 2013
  • All-University Graduate Research and Creative Scholar Award, Western Michigan University, 2012
  • Excellence in Research Award, School of Communication, Western Michigan University, 2012
  • Special Honor, TA Mentor Award, School of Communication, Western Michigan University, 2012
  • Delbert W. Baker Excellence in Communication Scholarship, Oakwood University, 2007 and 2008