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Dr. Karen Kangas Dwyer

Assistant Director, School of Communication
Robert T. Reilly Diamond Professor
OTICA Nebraska Distinguished Teacher Ad Perpetuum
Speech Communication Division Coordinator
Human Resources & Training Graduate Certificate Program Chair

Office: ASH 107J
Phone: 402.554.2253
Fax: 402.554.3836
kdwyer@ unomaha.edu



Office Hours - Spring 2013

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
By Appt. 10:00-2:30
 11:30-12:00 * By Appt.

Education

B.S. - University of Nebraska - Lincoln
M. A. - University of Nebraska at Omaha
Ph.D. - University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Awards Recipient
Robert T. Reilly Diamond Professor--School of Communication Endowed Chair for Research,
Leadership & Teaching
National Communication Association (NCA) Basic Course Division Program of Excellence
Award (2010) --top national award for an oral communication general education program
OTICA University of Nebraska State System-wide Outstanding Teaching and Instructional
Creativity Award (2006)
UNO Excellence in Teaching Award (1998)

Committees & Leadership
Speech Communication Division Coordinator
Basic Course Director--Public Speaking Fundamentals Program Coordinator
Chair & Advisor Human Resources & Training Graduate Certificate Program
University Assessment Committee
University Commencement Speaker Committee
National Communication Association (NCA) Communication Apprehension & Competence
Division Chair (2009-2010)
Basic Communication Course Annual, Editorial Board Member

 

Research Area
Instructional Communication
Communication Apprehension and Competence (Speech Anxiety)
Classroom Communication Climate
Communication Education

Courses Taught—Undergrad/Graduate
Communication Senior Capstone Course
Communication Training & Development
Communication, Teamwork, & Facilitation
Communication for Instructional Settings
Public Speaking Fundamentals & Speaking Confidently Sections
Topics in Communication Methods

 

Select Publications

Books
Dwyer, K. (2009).  The Multidimensional Model for Selecting Interventions.  Book chapter in J.A. Daly, J.C. McCroskey, J. Ayres, T. Hopf, and D. Ayres (Eds.), Avoiding Communication: Shyness, Reticence, and Communication Apprehension (pp. 359-374). Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Press (This book is the state-of-the-art research book on communication anxieties.).
Dwyer, K. (2005). Conquer Your Speech Anxiety: Learn to Overcome Your Nervousness about Public Speaking. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. (151-page textbook, reviewed by communication scholars)
Dwyer, K., & Baartmans, T. (2003). Vanzelfsprekend. (Talk for Yourself). Lisse, The Netherlands: Swets & Zeitlinger Publishers. (150-page Dutch public speaking book)
Dwyer, K. (2011). Public Speaking Student Workbook (240 pg.). Boston: Pearson.  
Peer-Reviewed Scholarly Journals
Dwyer, K.K. & Davidson, M. M. (in press). Speech Center Support Services, the Basic Course, & Oral Communication Assessment.  Basic Communication Course Annual, 23.
Prisbell, M, Dwyer, K., K., Carlson, R., M., Bingham, S., Cruz, A. (2008). Connected Classroom Climate and Communication in the Basic Course: Associations with Learning. Basic Communication Course Annual, 20.
Howe, M. M., and Dwyer, K.K. (2007). The Influence of Diaphragmatic Breathing to Reduce Situational Anxiety for Basic Course Students. Basic Communication Course Annual, 19,104-137.
Carlson, R., Dwyer, K., Bingham, S., M., Cruz, A., Prisbell, M, & Fus, D. (2006). Connected Classroom Climate and Communication Apprehension: Correlations and Implications for the Basic Course. Basic Communication Course Annual, 18. 1-27.
Dwyer, K., & Carlson, R. E., Dalbey, J. (2003). Impact of High School Preparation on College Oral Communication Apprehension. Basic Communication Course Annual15, 117-113.
Dwyer, K., & Fus, D. (2002). Perceptions of Communication Competence, Self-Efficacy, and Trait Communication Apprehension: Is there an Impact on Basic Course Success? Communication Research Reports 19 (1) 29-37.
Dwyer, K., & Carlson, R. E., Kahre, S. (2002). Communication Apprehension and Basic Course Success: The Lab-supported Public Speaking Course Intervention. Basic Communication Course Annual, 14, 87-112.
*Dwyer, K. (2000). The Multidimensional Model: Teaching Students to Self-Manage High Communication Apprehension by Self-Selecting Treatments. Communication Education, 49 (1) 72-81. *This article was featured in the NCA Spectra, January, 2000.
Dwyer, K. (1998). Communication Apprehension and Learning Style Preference: Correlations and Implications for Teaching. Communication Education 47 (2), 101-114.
Dwyer, K., & Fus, D. (1999). Communication Apprehension, Self-Efficacy, and Grades in the Basic Course: Correlations and Implications. Basic Communication Course Annual, 11, 108-132.
Dwyer, K., & Cruz, A. (1998). Communication Apprehension, Personality, and Grades in the Basic Course: Are there Correlations. Communication Research Reports, 15 (4), 436-444.
Dwyer, K. (1995). Creating and Teaching Special Sections of a Public Speaking Course for Apprehensive Students: A Multiple-Case Study.  Basic Communication Course Annual, 7, 100-124.
 CD

Dwyer, K. (2005). Conquering Speech Anxiety. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. A professionally produced CD on public speaking nervousness and anxiety reduction techniques.