MOCM Professor Acknowledge

MOCM Professor Acknowledged

 Dr. G. L. Forward, PLNU Professor of Organizational Communication, was recently recognized for his contribution to scholarship at the “intersections of communication, faith, and gender/feminist analysis (Sterk, 2010, p. 206).  A special issue of the Journal of Communication and Religion (vol. 33, no. 2) took a look back at the research published in the journal in the preceding decade, which includes five papers authored or co-authored by Dr. Forward.

 Dr. Helen Sterk, a former JCR editor, published an article in this special issue on “Faith, Feminism, and Scholarship.”  Forward is one of two male scholars mentioned by name in the article based on their contributions to this theme. She specifically cites Forward for two reasons.  First, she notes his consistent use of gender as a variable guiding his research, rather than just as a demographic descriptor. Secondly, she commends Forward for the frequency with which he publishes research with female co-authors, both students and junior faculty, and encourages others to follow that example.  “Mentoring undergrads and seeing them get excited about research and writing,” says Forward, “is one of the most enjoyable and satisfying parts of my job.”  Dr. Forward and MOCM graduate and current adjunct professor, Natalie Sadler, presently have a research paper under review at the journal on “Women Leaders and Burnout at a Church-Related University.”