Keynote Speaker Lynn Marie Harter

Friday, April 10, 2009
11:00 am - noon
Flohr Lecture Hall
Clark Memorial Library

Lynn Marie Harter received her Ph.D.in Communication Studies from the University of Nebraska in 2000. Dr. Harter began teaching at Ohio University in 2002, and is currently Steven and Barbara Schoonover Professor of Health Communication in Ohio University’s School of Communication Studies. Dr. Harter’s research focuses primarily on discourses of health and healing as well as feminist and narrative theory and practice. Her books, articles and scholarly lectures cover a variety of issues including pediatric cancer care, disability-related concerns, poverty and homelessness, and the organizing of health care resources for underserved populations.

Dr. Harter’s numerous articles and book chapters have been published in such periodicals as the Journal of Applied Communication Research, Journal of Business Communication, and Journal of Medical Humanities. Her co-authored article, entitled “Using standardized and computer-simulated patients as instructional tools for health care interviewing” (2001), received the Touchstone Award for outstanding article in volume 16 of Communication Teacher.

Dr. Harter’s publications also include textbooks. She served as one of three editors of Narratives, health, and healing: communication theory, research, and practice (2005), which received the 2006 Distinguished Edited Book Award from the Applied Communication Division of the National Communication Association. In addition, she also co-authored three editions of Human communication (2007, 2005, 2003), and co-authored a style manual for communication studies at Ohio University (2003). 

In addition to her research, Dr. Harter places a high priority on mentoring students as well as on community service. In 2005 and 2008, Dr. Harter was chosen as Ohio University’s Outstanding Graduate Faculty Mentor. Currently she advises ten doctoral and two master’s students. Dr. Harter’s dedication to her community is evidenced by her work on the Passion Works Advisory Board as well as her work as a research consultant for Hospice and the Fargo-Moorhead Rape and Abuse Crisis Center.