The Aspen Engaged Communication Scholarship Conference and Community

2024 - Fort Collins

In 2024, the conference theme was “Engagement and Repair in Precarious Times.” Relocating to the campus of Colorado State University in Fort Collins, participants focused on how, out of precarity, pain, and potential sprouts exigency for repairing past wrongs and intentionally re-pairing for new collaborative possibilities. Featured cases included DEI and wildland firefighting teams, prison pedagogies, and responding to campus food insecurity. Keynote speakers included Dr. Jody Jahn, Dr. Ben Boyce, Meghan R. Cosgrove, Dr. Stephen J. Hartnett, Braden Bomgaars, Mike Tessean, Dr. Jim Bullington, Dr. Jasmine R. Linabary, Kylie J. Johnson, Dr. Ziyu Long, and Dr. Elizabeth Wilhoit Larson. Participants also continued to refine a statement and values envisioning what engaged communication research should be. Download the theme and keynote descriptions and program.

2023

In 2023, the conference was on hiatus to reflect on the future after the twentieth anniversary. Stakeholders began working on co-drafting and refining a statement envisioning what engaged communication research should be. The conference organizers held a pre-conference at the annual meetings of the National Communication Association, and then two virtual events in 2024 to help prepare for the conference.

2022 - Snowmass

The 2022 conference marked the twentieth anniversary of the Aspen Engaged Communication Scholarship Conference. The theme was, “Reflecting and Reimagining: 20 Years of Engaged Scholarship and the Aspen Conference.” Keynote panelists included Dr. Kevin Barge, Dr. Stanley Deetz, Dr. Lynn Harter, Dr. Kathy Krone, Dr. Marianne LeGreco, Dr. Patricia Parker, Dr. David Seibold, and Dr. Pam Shockley-Zalabak.

2021 - Virtual on Gather

The 2021 conference focused on stories from engaged scholars about how they have cultivated resilience and made a difference through their engaged scholarship and pedagogy over the previous year. Held online, participants explored dilemmas and opportunities for engaged scholarship. Dr. Dawna Ballard gave keynote remarks titled, “When Engaged Research is Traumatic: Managing Vicarious Trauma Once Removed.” Dr. Angela Gist-Mackey and Dr. Mahuya Pal spoke to Engaged Research in Pandemic Times. Dr. Carmen Gonzalez and Dr. Matthew A. Koschmann spoke to Pedagogical Pivots with Community Partnerships and Service Learning in Pandemic Times.

2020

Conference cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

2019

The 2019 conference focused on how communication scholars and scholarship help in “building bridges in polarized times.” Scholars and practitioners examined the communicative roots of polarization and division to help imagine how scholarship may productively disrupt polarized positions and groups.

2018

The 2018 conference explored communication-as-constitutive approaches to organizing with a focus on the interplay between the ways that scholars theorize constitution and the practices they inspire within organizational life. Participants addressed theories, questions, practices, and tools associated with constitutive approaches and the possibilities they generate for organizational practitioners. Keynote presenters included Dr. Mark Aakhus, Dr. Karen Ashcraft, Dr. Martín Carcasson, Dr. Kate Harris, and Dr. Timothy Kuhn.

2017

The 2017 conference explored questions of difference in the crafting, conducting, and assessing engaged communication scholarship. We discussed how we might seek out and involve different voices in the formation and pursuit of engaged research projects. The keynote presenters included Dr. Brenda J. Allen who gave a talk titled, “Engaging Difference Matters: Critical Perspectives and Practices”, and Dr. Stacey Connaughton, Dr. Pat Parker, and Dr. M. Scott Poole.

2015

The 2015 conference focused on the theme of resilience with keynote presentations from Dr. Patrice Buzzanell, Dr. Marya Doerfel, Dr. Lisa Keranen, and Dr. Amy O’Connor, and extended case presentations from Dr. Matt Seeger, Melvin Gupton, Dr. Debbie Sellnow, and Dr. Tim Sellnow. The program schedule with titles maybe downloaded here, and slides and readings from these presentations are available in the Resources.

2013

The 2013 conference focused on deliberation and addressing environmental challenges with keynote presentations from the Catamount Institute, Dr. Robbie Cox, Dr. Gregg Walker, Dr. Jesse Sustain, and Dr. Ilene Wasserman.

2011 and 2012

The 2011 and 2012 conferences focused on working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Center for Global Health and members of its Communication Team led by Dr. Marsha Vanderford. In 2011, Dr. Vanderford, Kathryn (Kathy) Harben, Nathan Huebner, Laura Kenney, and Susan J. McBreairty provided a deep dive into the Center’s mission, and participants developed projects inspired by their work. Dr. In 2012, Dr. Mark Aakhus gave the keynote address. We also heard reflections on collaboration from Dr. Noshir Contractor, Dr. John Lammers, and Dr. Laurie Lewis and a presentation regarding Conversant’s Learning Laboratory from Dr. Jennifer Simpson, Anne Murray Allen, and Dianne Dickerson.

Conferences from 2002 to 2010

Materials and themes from earlier conferences have not been archived; however, conference topics, discussions, and projects are noted in some of the books, chapters, and articles found on the “Resources” page.