Debbie S. Dougherty

Debbie S. Dougherty is a Professor of Communication at the University of Missouri and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Applied Communication Research. She holds affiliations with the College of Arts and Science and has previously served as Associate Dean of Research, Interim Chair of Communication, and Faculty Fellow for Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity. Her work focuses on organizational power dynamics, particularly regarding sexual harassment and social class, with over 20 years of research output in leading journals. Dougherty has collaborated with organizations like the U.S. Army and National Park Service, providing expert training on workplace harassment. She has also been featured in major media outlets including the New York Times and Forbes.

Education: Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Nebraska (2000). Her research interests span feminist standpoint theory, emotion in organizations, and organizational culture. Dougherty has authored a book (The Reluctant Farmer: An Exploration of Work, Social Class, and the Production of Food, 2011) and sits on seven editorial boards. Awards include the Jack Kay Award for Engaged Research and the Gold Chalk Award for graduate mentoring.

• Key Contributions: Over 50 peer-reviewed articles, top paper awards (10), and impactful policy training programs.
• Teaching: Courses on Organizational Communication, Qualitative Methods, and Graduate Research.
• Service: Leadership roles in promoting equity initiatives and scholarly communication.

Her work bridges theory and practice, addressing real-world challenges in workplace culture and social justice through rigorous qualitative methodologies.