Lynnette Grace Leonard

Associate Professor

* Persuasion, Rhetoric, & Social Influence, * Media Technology, Ethics, & Criticism

A teacher/scholar interested in media technology, persuasion, and communication pedagogy, I am particularly interested in how media technology is challenging traditional views of communication, rhetorical theory, and teaching to reveal opportunities for innovation.

I received the University of Nebraska at Omaha 2011 Excellence in Teaching Award and continue to work each semester to learn with my students and innovate to meet the ever-expanding challenges to higher education.

I enjoy singing, hiking, baking, knitting, and spending time with my family.

Current Research

Women's protest speech and visual rhetoric

Bilingual advertising

Uncertainty management and online communication

Selected Publications

Leonard, L. G. & Withers, L. A. (2019). Place and Discourse in Virtual Environments. Electronic Journal of Communication, 29(3/4). http://www.cios.org/www/ejc/v29n34toc.htm

Leonard, L. G. (2019). Book Review: Lydia Sigourney: Critical Essays and Cultural Views. Early American Literature, 54(2), 545-550.

Leonard, L. G., Sherblom, J. C.,Withers, L. A., & Smith, J. S. (2015). Training Effective Virtual Teams: Presence, Identity, Communication Openness, and Conversational Interactivity. Connexions, 3(1), 11-45.

Leonard, L.G. & Toller, P. (2012). Speaking Ill of the Dead: Anonymity and Communication about Suicide on MyDeathSpace.com. Communication Studies, 63 (4): 387-404.

Tyma, A. & Leonard, L. (October 2011). It’s Not All Zeroes and Ones Moving Toward an Online Identity Assembly Theory. Selected Papers in Internet Research. Association of Internet Researchers, IR12. http://spir.aoir.org/

Expanded Publication List

Leonard, L. G. & Withers, L. A. (2019). Place and Discourse in Virtual Environments.Electronic Journal of Communication, 29(3/4). http://www.cios.org/www/ejc/v29n34toc.htm

Leonard, L. G. (2019). Book Review: Lydia Sigourney: Critical Essays and Cultural Views.Early American Literature, 54(2), 545-550.

Sherblom, J. C., Withers, L. A., Leonard, L. G., & Smith, J. S. (2018). Modeling Second Life team communication: The mediating effects of presence, identity, and trust on interactivity, openness, and satisfaction. In K. Lakkaraju & G. Sukthankar (Eds.), Social Interactions in Virtual Worlds: An Interdisciplinary Perspective. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

Leonard, L. G., Sherblom, J. C. & Withers, L. A. (2013). Voice in a virtual world:From resistance to appropriation. Selected Papers in Internet Research. Association of Internet Researchers, IR14. http://spir.aoir.org/

Sherblom, J. C., Withers, L. A., & Leonard, L. G. (2013). The influence of computer- mediated communication (CMC) competence on computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) in online classroom discussions. Human Communication, 16(1), 31- 39.

Leonard, L.G. & Toller, P. (2012). Speaking Ill of the Dead: Anonymity and Communication about Suicide on MyDeathSpace.com. Communication Studies, 63 (4): 387-404.

Leonard, L. (October 2011). Youth Participation in Civic Engagement Through Social Media: A Case Study. Selected Papers in Internet Research. Association of Internet Researchers. IR12. http://spir.aoir.org/

Leonard, L.G.; Withers, L. A.; & Sherblom, J. C. (2011). Collaborating virtually: Using Second Life to teach collaboration. Communication Teacher, 25 (1): 63-68.

Leonard, L. G., Withers, L. A., & Sherblom, J. C. (2011). The paradox of computer-mediated communication and identity: Peril, promise, and Second Life®. In Management Association, USA, I. (Ed.), Virtual communities: Concepts, methodologies, tools, and applications (pp. 1559-1575). doi: 10.4018/978-1-60960-100-3.ch431 (reprint).

Withers, L. A., Leonard, L. G., & Sherblom, J. C. (2010). Classrooms without walls: Teaching together in Second Life. In L. Shedletsky & J. Aitken (Eds), Cases on online discussion and interaction: Experiences and outcomes. (pp. 88-104). Hershey, PA: IGI Global Publishing.

Leonard, L.G.; Withers, L. A.; & Sherblom, J. C. (2010). The paradox of identity and computer-mediated communication: Promise, peril, and Second Life. In J. Park & E. Abels (Eds.), Interpersonal relations and social patterns in communication technology. (pp. 1-17). Hershey, PA: IGI Global Publishing.

Sherblom, J. C.; Withers, L. A.; & Leonard, L. G. (2009). Communication challenges and opportunities for educators using Second Life. In J. Kingsley & C. Wankel (Eds.), Higher education in virtual environments. (pp. 29-46). United Kingdom: Emerald Publishing Group.

Leonard, L. G.; Withers, L. A.; & Sherblom, J. C. (2009). Three universities--one classroom: Collaborative teaching in Second Life. In N. Edick & G.J. de Vreede (Eds.), Advances in collaboration science research: The center for collaboration sciences third research seminar (pp. 29-36). Omaha, NE: The Center for Collaboration Science, University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Leonard, L.G. (2006, 2005). Mapping the terrain: communication models within the public speaking context. (pp. 2-7). Speaker-audience communication survival guide. Boston: Pearson Custom Publishing.

Leonard, L.G., Mabachi, N.M., & Ford, D.J. (Eds.). (2006). Speaker-audience communication survival guide: 2005-2006 Edition. Boston: Pearson Custom Publishing.

Ford, D.J., Leonard, L.G., & Mabachi, N.M. (Eds.). (2005). Speaker-audience communication survival guide. Boston: Pearson Custom Publishing.

Grants and Fellowships

George Mason University Strategic Fund for “Gender Relations and Student Success at Mason Korea,” Contributor and Team Member. 2023-2024. $43,800.

AUBG Institutional Grant to the American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (ASHA) Innovation Hub grant, Contributor- 2016-2017. $300,000.00.

American University in Bulgaria (AUBG) International Conference Presentation Travel Grant, Fall 2011-$800; Spring 2013-$800; Fall 2014-$800; Spring 2016-$800,Fall 2017-$800, Fall 2018-$800.

COX Communication program support for North Omaha Media Alliance. Spring 2011- $1,500.00

Scholarship of Engagement Travel Grant. University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO). 2010-$850.00

Social Media for Citizen News & Civic Engagement in North Omaha: A NOMA project. Midwest Consortium for Service-Learning. Spring 2010-$800.00; Fall 2010-$999.00

University Committee for the Advancement of Teaching (UCAT) Workshop Development Grant. Fall 2010-$1,300.00

UCAT Travel Grant for the National Communication Association Conference. UNO. 2007, 2008 & 2009-$800.00 each year

UCAT Teaching Circle Materials Support Grant. UNO. 2008 & 2009-$500.00 each year

Center for Collaboration Science Summer Grant for UNO/CMU/UMaine Second Life Project. UNO.2008-$1,500.00; 2009-$500.00

Social Media for Citizen News & Civic Engagement in North Omaha: A NOMA project. (PI). Midwest Consortium for Service-Learning. 2008-$10,000.00

Civic Participation Grant for NOMA. Service Learning Academy at UNO. 2008-$900.00

Courses Taught

I have taught classes across the communication discipline. Below are the courses organized by general topic.

Media Technology, Ethics, & Criticism Media Criticism; Communication, Media, and Society; Media Law and Ethics; Global Comparative Media; Computer-Mediated Communication; Modern Public Address.

Persuasion & Social Influence Persuasion, Propaganda, & Protest; Challenging Extremism; Persuasive Strategies in Advertising and PR; Advertising Fundamentals; Persuasion, Rhetorical Theory and Criticism; Introduction to Rhetoric and Social Influence.

Writing Exposition,Persuasion, Writing for Media.

Public Speaking Fundamentals of Communication, Public Speaking, Introduction to Speech Communication-Hybrid Speaking/Theory.

Communication Communication, Leadership, & Power in Organizations; Interviewing; Introduction to Organizational Communication; Effective Business Communication; Communication in Small Groups

Education

Ph.D., Communication Studies, University of Kansas, August 2006.

M.A., Communication, University of New Mexico, December 1998.

B.S., Rhetoric & Communication, Kansas State University, May 1995.

Recent Presentations

Hong, S.R., Lorenzo, S., Ryu, H., Yun, H., Davis, S., Kwak. D, and Leonard, L.G. (February 2024) “Documenting Immigrant Students’ Experiences in the Mason Korea Classroom.” Presented at Education and Health Research Hub Conference. George Mason University.

Leonard, L. (Dec 2, 2022) Invited panel speaker, "The Role and Implications of Outdoor Media for Regional Economic Revitalization." Presented at 1st International Triennial Conference on Local Finance, Seoul South Korea.

Avramova, K. & Leonard, L.G. (November 2018). “Mergers and Acquisitions in the Media Industry: The Implications of the AT&T-Time Warner Merger.” Presented at Prague Media Point International Conference, Prague, Czech Republic.

Leonard, L.G. (November, 2017). “Mothering in a Strange Land: Online Social Support for Uncertainty Management.” On the panel, I’ve Got Friends in Virtual Spaces: Current Issues in Online Social Support Research. Presented at the National Communication Association Conference, Dallas, TX.

In the Media

Interviewed for Guarina, B. (August 28, 2018). Speaking of Science: When the ancient taboo of speaking ill of the dead goes online. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2018/08/28/when-ancient-taboo-speaking-ill-dead-goes-online/