Becky Johns

Education

  • 2001 Ph.D., University of Utah, Communication
  • 1980 M.A., Brigham Young Univeristy, Communication
  • 1974 B.A., Weber State University, Communication

Courses Taught

  • COMM 1010 Intro to Communication Studies
  • COMM 1020 Principles of Public Speaking
  • COMM 1020 Online version Public Speaking
  • COMM 2110 Interpersonal and Small Group
  • COMM 2200 Argumentation and Debate
  • COMM 3000 Communication Theory
  • COMM 3050 Theory and Literature of Interpersonal Communication
  • COMM 3060 Listening
  • COMM 3085 Family Communication
  • COMM 3090 Gender and Communication
  • COMM 3150 Communication Research
  • COMM 3550 Organizational Communication
  • COMM 4160 Contemporary and Rhetorical Communication Theories
  • COMM 3070 Performance Studies
  • COMM 4990 Senior Seminar
  • WS 1500 Intro to Women’s Studies
  • WS 4050 Research Methodologies
  • WS 4060 Research Project
  • WS 4860 Internship in Women’s Studies
  • WS 4900C Special Topics: Women and the LDS Church
  • WS 4990 Senior Seminar

Publications

  • Peer-reviewed Journal Article: “Hidden Strategies of Resistance in Female Mormon Missionary Narratives: Two Case Studies,” Journal of Communication and Religion, April, 2008, pp. 55-81.
  • Textbook: Johns, B. (2007). Chapters 1 and 2, In Johns, B. & Sline, R.W., (eds.) Connecting: Interpersonal and Small Group Communication, 7th ed.. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth-Thomson Learning (non-refereed)
  • Textbook Editor: Johns, B. (2007). Johns, B. & Sline, R.W., (eds.) Connecting: Interpersonal and Small Group Communication, 7th ed.. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth-Thomson Learning (non-refereed).
  • Film Documentary: Johns, B., author, director and producer, The Beginning of an Era: David Eccles, produced in connection with the WSU Stewart Library, The Utah International Construction Center Project and Grant, 2007 (Currently being re-edited)

Recent Presentations

  • Johns, Becky, National Communication Association Convention, Spirituality Division, “Sadie’s Story and Spiritual Communication: Female Appropriation Of Male Priesthood Rights,” Chicago, IL, 2007 (Refereed Paper)
  • Johns, Becky, WSU Faculty Forum, “Student Evaluations and Grades: Is There a Connection? Part II,” 2007
  • Johns, Becky, Religious Communication Association Pre-convention, “A Feminist Reading of Mormon Female Missionary Narratives: Rhetorical Strategies of Appropriation,” (Refereed Paper), 2006
  • Johns, Becky, WSU Faculty Forum, “Learning by Immersion: Performances of Civic Engagement at WSU,” 2006-07
  • Johns, Becky and polygamist representatives, WSU Diversity Conference, Panel Organizer, Chair and Respondent, Panel: “The View from Inside: Women Defend Polygamy,” 2005
  • Johns, Becky, WSU Faculty Forum, “Student Evaluations and Grades: Is There A Connection?” 2005

Teaching Innovations

Development of New Programs or Courses or Instructional Areas

  • Participated in significant Communication Department curriculum revision implemented in 2004-05. Developed the new Interpersonal and Family Communication concentration in the Communication major.

New Pedagogies

  • Extensive use of Service Learning pedagogy in COMM 2110 and Women’s Studies 1500, both general education, diversity and lower-division courses. In COMM 2110 alone, I teach a minimum of four sections a year with approximately 25 students per section.
  • The use of what I have termed Learning by Immersion speaking assignments in my COMM 1020 Principles of Public Speaking courses. This technique combines aspects of Performance Studies Theory, Narrative Theory and Civic Engagement pedagogy (2005-2008).
  • Implemented Undergraduate Research with expectation of Presentation pedagogy in COMM 3000, COMM 3150, COMM 3550 and COMM 4990. Twenty students in past two years have presented their original research at regional or national venues.

Professional-Related Service

National

  • Book Reviewer, Religious Communication Association National Book Award
  • Paper Reader, Religious Communication Association National Conference
  • Section Leader, Religious Communication Association National Conference, Communication Studies

State

  • Member, Utah State Board of Regents General Education Task Force

University

  • Chair, WSU Faculty Senate General Education Improvement and Assessment Committee
  • Member, Selection Committee, WSU Registrar
  • Liaison, Faculty Senate, WSU Academic Resources and Computing Committee (ARCC)
  • Member, Selection Committee, WSU Student Services Vice-President
  • Member, WEBCT Campus Implementation Committee
  • Member, WSU Planning Council
  • Member, WSU Adjunct Instructor Taskforce
  • Member, WSU Student Success Taskforce
  • Member, WSU Student Success Taskforce Subcommittee on University Entrance Tests
  • Chair, WSU Faculty Salary Committee

College

  • Member, Arts & Humanities Leader Caucus
  • Chair, Arts & Humanities Area Breadth General Education
  • Assessment Committee

Community service

  • Member and Officer, Weber County League of Women Voters, 1981-Present
  • Trustee, Mormon Alliance (investigates cases of ecclesiastical abuse by Mormon Church Authorities), 1990—Present
  • Member and Officer, Weber County League of Women Voters, 1981-Present

Honors and Awards

  • Exemplary Collaboration Award, WSU, March, 2000
  • Exemplary Collaboration Award, WSU, March, 2008

Memberships

  • Member, National Communication Association
  • Member, Western Communication Association
  • Member, Religious Communication Association
  • Member, National Women’s Studies Association
  • Member, Southwest Institute of Research on Women

Professor

Interpersonal & Small Group Communication
Organizational Communication
Public Speaking

Elizabeth Hall 337
801-626-7455
bjohns@weber.edu