Patty Hawk

Patty Hawk is a Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Nebraska Wesleyan University. She is actively involved in teaching, research, and university service, with a focus on dialogue, organizational communication, and social movements. Her office is within the Communication Studies department, and she teaches a range of courses including Organizational Communication, Interpersonal Communication, and Communication Theory.

• Ph.D. in Communication Studies, University of Nebraska
• MA in Administrative Arts, Doane College
• BA in Business Administration, Chadron State College

Her research and academic interests center on dialogue as a transformative communication practice. She emphasizes invitational communication, drawing on Littlejohn's principle: 'listen so others may speak and speak so others may listen.' Her work extends into organizational communication and social movements, particularly how dialogue fosters inclusion and change within institutions and communities. She integrates these principles into classroom pedagogy and institutional programming.

Patty Hawk is actively engaged in campus and community initiatives promoting civil discourse. She serves as Chair of the Social and Applied Science Division and co-chaired the Strategic Planning Steering Committee from 2019 to 2021. She coordinates the Prairie Wolf Civil Discourse Project and helps design the annual Envision Vocational Dialogue Project. In collaboration with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, she facilitates dialogues on critical issues, and conducts workshops on public speaking and dialogue integration in the classroom.

She has received multiple honors recognizing her teaching excellence and commitment to diversity:

• 2012 Margaret J. Prouty Faculty Teaching Award
• 2012 Notable Woman, NWU Women's Commission
• 2010 NWU Advocate for Diversity
• 2006–2007 Exemplary Teacher, United Methodist Church

Patty Hawk is a member of the National Communication Association and the Academy of Professional Dialogue. She also contributes to campus culture as a member of the faculty/staff band 'Release Time.' Her work reflects a deep commitment to ethical communication, inclusive pedagogy, and institutional transformation through dialogue.