معرفی
Allison M. Alford serves as a Clinical Associate Professor within the Department of Information Systems and Business Analytics at Baylor University's Hankamer School of Business. Holding a PhD in Communication Studies from The University of Texas at Austin, she combines 17 years of academic teaching with practical consulting experience through her firm Good Talk Communication Consulting. Her expertise spans interpersonal communication, conflict resolution, teamwork, and leadership communication across diverse professional fields including engineering, technology, and finance.
Dr. Alford's educational foundation includes:
- PhD in Communication Studies (2016), The University of Texas at Austin
- MA in Communication Studies (2005), The University of Texas at Austin
- BA in International Studies, Journalism, and French (2003), Texas A&M University
Her research program critically examines adult daughtering as a form of invisible labor within family systems, investigating how women navigate work-family interfaces and construct relational identities across generations. This scholarship intersects with gender studies, family communication, and sociology, revealing how cultural expectations shape mother-daughter dynamics and kin work. Through her podcast "Hello Mother, Hello Daughter" and academic publications, she advocates for recognizing and valuing these often-unseen contributions to family well-being.
Analysis of Dr. Alford's 15 most recent publications (2019-2024) shows consistent focus on three interconnected domains: family communication (particularly mother-daughter relationships), communication pedagogy in business education, and gendered workplace dynamics. Her 2024 work extends daughtering research into social upheaval contexts, while her educational scholarship addresses technology integration and virtual communication training. These threads demonstrate her commitment to bridging theoretical communication frameworks with practical applications for professionals.
Through Good Talk Communication Consulting, Dr. Alford provides specialized coaching for professionals and MBA students, translating academic insights into actionable communication strategies. While specific grant funding isn't documented, her curriculum development work—including creating Baylor's accredited undergraduate certificate in Business and Professional Communication—demonstrates significant institutional impact in communication education.
