Karen Anderson-Lain

Karen Anderson-Lain is a Principal Lecturer and Basic Communication Course Director in the Department of Communication Studies at the University of North Texas, College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences. She earned her doctorate from the University of Kansas in 2003 and joined UNT as an Assistant Professor in 2004, returning full-time in 2015 after a brief stint in academic administration. She was promoted to Principal Lecturer in 2017, reflecting her excellence in teaching and service.

• Ph.D., University of Kansas, 2003
• M.A., Texas Tech University, 1999

Her research centers on communication pedagogy, including service-learning, critical and popular culture pedagogy, narrative approaches, and online/blended instruction. She also investigates interpersonal and health communication topics such as aging, intergenerational relationships, and family dynamics. Her work emphasizes assessment, pedagogical innovation, and community engagement.

The most recent publications highlight her expertise in argumentation assessment, popular culture in teaching, debate education, and intercultural communication. Her articles reflect a consistent focus on pedagogical rigor, emotional and narrative engagement, and the integration of civic and community-based learning into communication curricula.

Scientific Awards and Honors:

• Outstanding Lecturer Award, UNT Foundation (2018)
• Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Finalist, CLASS Advisory Board (2018)
• Distinguished Connect Partner Award, UNT Career Connect (2018)
• Top Paper in Argumentation & Forensics, NCA Convention (2017)
• Michael T. Marsden Paper Award, The Popular Culture Studies Journal (2016)
• Teachers on Teaching Honoree, National Communication Association (2015)
• Library Instruction Round Table Top Twenty Article (2011)
• Media Partner Award, North Texas Arthritis Foundation (2010)

Dr. Anderson-Lain has secured over $28,000 in research grants, including funding from the QEP II Grant and Blended Learning Research Grant, supporting her work on service-learning and instructional methods. She mentors graduate teaching assistants and has been deeply involved in academic governance as a UNT Faculty Senator (2020–2023) and Co-Chair of the Committee on the Status of Women (2019–2021). She teaches courses such as COMM 1010, COMM 2020, and graduate-level pedagogy, and collaborates extensively with her research partner, Dr. Brian Lain.

She leads the TA Training and Orientation program and coordinates Core and Program Assessment for the department, playing a central role in shaping communication education at UNT.