Digit-Ill
Digit-Ill - Staff Bios
Theodore A. Avtgis, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in the School of Communication and Media at Western Illinois University and an independent consultant specializing in organizational communication processes in general business and healthcare organizations. Dr. Avtgis received his Ph.D. in Communication Studies from Kent State University. Dr. Avtgis has authored over 65 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters focusing on organizational communication, health communication, risk and crisis communication, and aggressive communication. His work has appeared in journals such as Management Communication Quarterly, Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection, and Critical Care, Communication Education, and Communication Research Reports among many others. He is co-author of fifteen books. Dr. Avtgis was recognized as one of the top 50 most productive researchers in the field of communication studies between 1996-2001 (tied for 12th). Other honors include being named a Centennial Scholar (2009 Eastern Communication Association), Distinguished Scholar (2011 Eastern Communication), Past Presidents’ Award Recipient (Eastern Communication Association), Research Fellow (2012 Eastern Communication Association), Teaching Fellow (2013 Eastern Communication Association), Honoree (2013 Ohio Magazine Excellence in Education), and recipient of the Ashland University Academic Mentor Award (2015). Dr. Avtgis has served as Editor in Chief of Communication Research Reports and is serving/has served on the boards of eleven scholarly journals. He is co-founder of the medical communication consulting firm Medical Communication Specialists and was recognized as a member of the World Council on Hellenes Abroad (USA Region of American Academics). Throughout his career, Professor Avtgis has served on the faculty of academic institutions including St. John’s University, West Virginia University, Ashland University, and the University of Akron.
Christopher J. Carpenter, PhD, is a Professor in the School of Communication and Media at Western Illinois University. He came into the field of Communication after several years as a successful competitor in both Speech and Debate (2002 Pi Kappa Delta National Policy Debate Champion). After his B.A. in Psychology from North Central College, he switched to Communication and earned his M.A. from Northern Illinois University in 2006. He continued studying Communication as well as advanced statistics in the Communication Department of Michigan State University where he earned his PhD in 2010. He has since been a professor at Western Illinois University both in the Macomb campus and the Quad Cities campus. His research activities have been extensive and well-regarded by his peers. He has produced over 80 journal articles, book chapters, and published conference proceedings in such outlets as the Annals of the International Communication Association, Human Communication Research, Journal of Communication, Communication Research, Health Communication, Computers in Human Behavior, Communication Monographs, and the Sage Handbook of Persuasion. Carpenter also co-authored a textbook on persuasion and a textbook on social influence tactics. The Information Systems Division of the International Communication Association awarded him the John E. Hunter Meta-Analysis Award. His research on the Health Belief Model is the most cited article ever published in the journal Health Communication. In 2016 Western Illinois University chose him to win the Provost’s Award for Excellence in Scholarly Activity that is given to the WIU professor who has produced the best scholarly record in the past three years. His work on social media has been discussed in many mass media outlets such as CNN, Forbes, Le Monde, The Guardian, Psychology Today, Men’s Health, and Jezebel.com.
Daniela Corrent is a multilingual communication strategist and leadership consultant with a diverse background spanning corporate, non-profit organizations, and academic environments, besides being an experienced mentor and neurocoach. With a keen ability to foster human connections, and more than 20 years of experience, Daniela helps individuals and organizations enhance their potential through a human-centered approach and navigate complex communication landscapes. Besides her role as consultant, she also contributes to the DIGIT-ILL program, working with Western Illinois University (WIU), as campaign administrator, to enhance digital engagement and online health literacy in Northwest Illinois through community education and training. Before joining WIU, she worked as an attorney in different attorney’s offices, and held leadership roles in corporate and nonprofit settings, focusing on DEI initiatives, professional development programs, cross-cultural leadership education, organizational communication and change management, coaching, and mentoring. Daniela is pursuing a master’s degree in communication at Western Illinois University. She holds a Law degree from PUCRS (Brazil), and multiple certifications in neurocoaching, DEI executive, leadership, and positive psychology from institutions such as Cornell and Stanford University. Fluent in Portuguese, English, and Spanish, she is dedicated to leveraging communication strategies to foster well-being and empower individuals, organizations, and the communities that they are part of. Daniela Corrent is originally from Brazil, but currently she resides in the USA with her family.
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