Communication Impacts Individuals, Societies and Cultures, Says ASU Doctoral Student

The ways in which we communicate shape our reality as individuals and as a society, says LaKresha Graham, a doctoral student in the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication. Preconceived ideas and ideologies affect communication, and influences how we relate to individuals, as well as how we structure our society and laws.

Communication is often hindered by issues regarding intercultural communication. She has focused on issues of race, ethnicity, and gender. "I've also begun to focus on social class and communication-there is a relationship between these, but there has not been as much research. Socioeconomic class is also closely associated with ethnicity and gender. I believe that many of the ideologies and preconceptions regarding marginalized groups are either based upon or compounded by social class."

"We say we're a classless society, but there are many contradictions. For example, when someone does not attain upward mobility, we tend to attribute status as due to his or her personal character rather than systemic problems within society."

Long term goals are to obtain a faculty position, teach, and publish results of her research, particularly on social class and intercultural communication.

When she researched universities where she could get her Ph.D., she says she discovered that "ASU was Number One in Intercultural Communication. I had already read many of the HDSHC faculty members' research at some point in my academic career. I visited ASU during our department's Welcome Weekend, and that solidified my decision to attend here. It seemed like a program that I could really grow as a scholar with a lot of opportunities."

Since coming to ASU, LaKresha has participated in the Voices of Discovery dialogues at the ASU Intergroup Relations Center (IRC) as well as in the Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) program with the Graduate College. At the 2007 Capstone Fair, she plans to present results of the IRC dialogues and her experiences mentoring students at South Mountain Community College who want to transfer to ASU. She has also taught ASU classes such as Gender and Communication and Intercultural Communication.

"ASU's graduate programs have motivated me to expand my teaching, research and service," she says. "I am being prepared to do the work of a faculty member. I have truly grown as a scholar here."