A panel dedicated to the life and legacy of Carole Barbato, Ph.D., emeritus professor of Communication Studies at ¶¶MÅ®ÆÍ, will be featured at the 100th Annual National Communication Association (NCA) conference in Chicago. The session, âCelebrating the Life and Legacy of Carole Barbato, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus, ¶¶MÅ®ÆÍ" will highlight the research and scholarship of Barbato, who died unexpectedly last spring. The panel session will be held Nov. 21, at 2 p.m. in the Astoria Room of the Hilton Chicago.
A panel dedicated to the lifework of one person is a distinct honor, according to Paul Haridakis, Ph.D., Director of the School of Communication Studies at ¶¶MÅ®ÆÍ. Barbato was a long-time member of the NCA.
âThe National Communication Association is by far the largest communication association. For them to devote a program to a particular person says a lot about the impact that the person has had,â Haridakis said.
Although Barbato spent most of her teaching career at ¶¶MÅ®ÆÍâs East Liverpool Campus, she also taught undergraduate and graduate classes on the Kent campus.
âEverything she gave was for her students. She would always encourage them and she touched all of their lives. Even masters and graduate students that didnât have her for classes were mentored by her and would seek her advice when she was on the Kent Campus,â Haridakis said. âShe was an integral faculty member of this school.â
Panelists will address Barbatoâs contributions to communication scholarship, her impact on students, and the legacy of May 4th at ¶¶MÅ®ÆÍ.
âNot only did she have a great impact on the field of communication, the impact sheâs had at this University has been phenomenal,â Haridakis said.
Speaking about Barbatoâs legacy is a great honor for Haridakis whose topic is âTeacher, Mentor, and Friend to Students.â
âCarole was extremely gregarious and selfless. I donât think I ever had a conversation with her where she didnât laugh, and her laugh was infectious. She was the most jovial colleague with whom Iâve ever worked with and that came across with her students as well. She was always upbeat, always cared and always put student and colleague interest ahead of hers and was happy to do so,â Haridakis said. âShe was a faculty member here for about 40 years and is incredibly missed.â
Barbato has conducted research on interpersonal communication, team-building, group communication, and family communication. âHer work in small group communication has guided a lot of future research,â Haridakis said. âIn addition, she was integral in establishing the May 4th Center and I canât think of another person whoâs had more of an impact on this University.â
According to the NCA program, âBarbato and her colleagues were instrumental in designating the site of the May 4, 1970, ¶¶MÅ®ÆÍ Shootings on the National Register of Historic Places by the Department of the Interior. Their efforts culminated in the May 4th site Walking Tour and the May 4th Visitors Center, located on the ¶¶MÅ®ÆÍ campus, and was opened to the public in 2012.â
This yearâs conference will bring many of Barbatoâs former students and colleagues together to celebrate her life and career.
In addition to Haridakis, presenters include Laura Davis, Ph.D., Emeritus Professor of English and Founding Director of the May 4th Visitors Center, ¶¶MÅ®ÆÍ and Scott Myers, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Communication Studies, West Virginia University. Davis will speak on âA Time It Was: May 4, 1970 and Its Aftermathâ and Myers will speak on âCarole Barbatoâs Impact on the Study of Team Building and Interpersonal Communication Motives.â Panel co-chairs are Elizabeth Graham, Ph.D., Professor, School of Communication, University of Akron and Elizabeth Perse, Ph.D., Professor and Chair, Department of Communication, University of Delaware. Perse and Graham are ¶¶MÅ®ÆÍ alumni.