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Pictured with WIU Associate Professor of Communication Josh Averbeck, right, are graduate students Folake Okor and Emmanuel Odunfa.
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Communication Faculty and Students Honored for Academic Paper Work

April 25, 2023

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MACOMB, IL – Western Illinois University Associate Professor of Communication Josh Averbeck received two top paper awards at the Central States Communication Association Conference in St. Louis, MO, held March 30-April 2.

The first award was presented on the Health Communication Interest Group Top Paper panel, and was co-authored by Communication graduate students Emmanuel Odunfa, of Macomb; Folake Okor, of Macomb; and Joyce Peter, of Nigeria. The paper, titled "Regulatory Fit and STI Screening: Persuasive Effects of Regulatory Orientation on Message Regulatory Focus," compared language differences in messages encouraging screening for sexually transmitted infections.

Averbeck was presented with the Top Paper Award from the Strategic and Applied Communication Interest Group with his paper, "An Integrative Model of Behavioral Approach to Reduce the Use of Adderall as a Study Aid on College Campus."

"I interviewed and surveyed students to understand what they believed about using Adderall as a study aid," Averbeck said. "Then I created a Buzzfeed post that presents the negative side of misusing the drug. The effect was huge. Once students understood how dangerous Adderall can be, nearly 7 out of 10 said they would not use the drug as a study aid."

Two of the graduate students also attended the conference with Averbeck.

"Seeing the presentations really showed me how much I learned in this program," said Odunfa, who will begin his doctoral studies at the University of Oklahoma this fall.

Okor, who will begin her doctoral studies at Washington State University this fall, added that the conference made her realize how many skills WIU has given her in preparation for her doctoral studies.

"It's wonderful that these students were able to attend the conference," said Averbeck. "I'm glad they were able to see how capable they are."

Averbeck added that he intends to continue working with students to publish the articles in academic journals.

For more information about WIU's Department of Communications program, visit wiu.edu/communication.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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