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Hugh Downs School of Human Communication at ASU

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Hugh Downs School of Human Communication at ASU

We explore the complex role of human communication in everyday life.

The making of the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication originally began in 1978 as part of the Department of Communication within the College of Public Programs at Arizona State University. In 1999, the school was renamed the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication and became part of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at the University.

09/02/2026

🔱 Lesli Figueroa Sanchez used to avoid speaking in front of others. As a first-generation Latina student at ASU, sharing her story felt like stepping outside her comfort zone.

Performance Studies courses at the Hugh Downs School helped change that. Through coursework connecting daily life, art and her family’s history, Lesli found a way to turn her own experience into something that could resonate with others.

✨ Lesli is a recipient of the Kristin Bervig Valentine Scholarship. In her words: “Your work does not go unnoticed, it is impactful, and it’s your own trace.”

09/01/2026

How can local governments embrace AI while protecting public trust?

President's Professor Pauline Hope Cheong is a lead author of Responsible Artificial Intelligence in Local Government, a new international policy report exploring how communities can balance AI innovation with transparency, accountability and responsible governance.

🔗 Read the report: https://doi.org/10.5204/eprints.267013

08/25/2026

Communication expertise can make an impact far beyond the classroom. 🔱

Professor Sarah Jane Tracy recently participated in House of Genius, a monthly Phoenix event where entrepreneurs share real-world challenges and receive anonymous, crowdsourced feedback, ideas and support from community participants.

Tracy was invited by Hugh Downs School PhD graduate Cary Lopez, who assists with House of Genius through her work leading Design Convo.

08/20/2026

🎒✨ Happy first day of classes, Sun Devils! 🔱

A new semester means new opportunities to grow, connect, and discover what communication can do.

Whether you're developing your public speaking skills, exploring intercultural communication, learning about communication and technology, or preparing for a career that makes an impact, we're excited to be part of your journey.

Here's to a semester of learning, collaboration, and new experiences. Welcome back, and good luck this fall! ❤️💛

08/07/2026

🎉 Congratulations to Hugh Downs School doctoral student Yezi He on receiving the Routledge Award at the 2026 Performance Studies international conference in Jakarta! 🔱

Sponsored by Performance Studies international (PSi) and Routledge, the award recognizes outstanding postgraduate scholarship through a rigorous juried selection process.

Yezi earned the honor for her work, The Second Life of Performance: Choreographing Emergence and Care, representing ASU and the Hugh Downs School on the global stage.

Congratulations, Yezi! ✨

08/05/2026

How does social media shape the way we think about dating?

Associate Professor Liesel Sharabi of the Hugh Downs School is helping answer that question.

Sharabi serves as a relationship science advisor for Hily and worked on Hily's 2026 Dating T.R.U.T.H. Report, a national study of more than 3,000 Gen Z and Millennial daters that explores how curated online content influences dating expectations.

Her research emphasizes the importance of authenticity in building meaningful relationships and navigating today's technology-driven dating landscape.

Read more:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/special/contributor-content/2026/07/20/hily-report-suggests-social-media-expectations-may-be-shaping-dating-experiences-as-much-as-dating-a/90986107007/

08/04/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Heewon Kim, associate professor at the Hugh Downs School, and alumna Dr. Mary Kiura, now assistant professor at Purdue University Fort Wayne, on receiving an Honorable Mention from Management Communication Quarterly for their article, A Communicative Model of Voicing: The Processes and Strategies of Constructive Employee Voicing in the Renewable Energy Industry in Kenya.

Their research examines how employees in Kenya's renewable energy industry constructively raise ideas and concerns, tracing the communication process from an initial idea through its final outcome.

Congratulations to Dr. Kim and Dr. Kiura on this well-deserved recognition!

08/03/2026

Communication plays an important role in how organizations support people, navigate challenges and improve outcomes.

In our new Health Communication MA concentration, you'll learn from faculty like Associate Professor Alaina Zanin, whose research explores the intersection of health and organizational communication.

Her work examines communication within healthcare organizations and other complex environments, helping students understand how effective communication strengthens collaboration, builds trust and supports meaningful change.

🎓 Applications are still open for fall 2026.

Learn more:
https://asuonline.asu.edu/online-degree-programs/graduate/health-communication-masters/

07/29/2026

How will immersive technologies change the way we connect with one another?

Hugh Downs School Associate Professor Liesel Sharabi was invited to present to the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation's (ITIF) Immersive Tech Working Group, an invite-only forum where policymakers, industry representatives, academics and other experts discuss emerging immersive technologies.

Her presentation, "Dating & AR/VR," explored how these technologies may shape relationships and the future of human connection.

Congratulations to Liesel on this outstanding recognition! 🔱

07/28/2026

Strong communication can strengthen families, support healthier communities and improve lives.

In our new Health Communication MA concentration, you'll learn from faculty like Associate Professor Jonathan Pettigrew, whose work focuses on designing and evaluating communication-based health interventions that create real-world impact.

Through partnerships with communities across the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, his work demonstrates how communication can improve health outcomes and help effective interventions reach the people who need them most.

🎓 Applications are now open for fall 2026.

Learn more:
https://asuonline.asu.edu/online-degree-programs/graduate/health-communication-masters/

Address

950 S. Forest Mall, Rm 412
Tempe, AZ
85287

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Website

https://humancommunication.asu.edu/

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