Jeffrey T. Child is an associate professor of communication and associate director of the School of Communication Studies in the College of Communication and Information. His primary research explores privacy management practices across various communication contexts but predominantly in the social media arena. His most recent scholarship examines what motivates people to reclaim more of their privacy through social media and how people also handle parental and co-worker Facebook friend requests.
Child is the lead author of a new nationwide digital textbook launched with McGraw Hill titled “Experience Communication” focusing on communication practices across interpersonal, organizational, small group, public and social media interactions. He has published more than 30 peer-reviewed articles in major communication research journals including Communication Quarterly, Communication Studies and Computers in Human Behavior, among many others.
He also actively reviews research manuscripts for 20 different journals related to his areas of expertise, and he serves as an editorial board member of Basic Communication Course Annual, Communication Teacher and the Iowa Journal of Communication.
Child was honored in 2013 by his alma mater, Wayne State College, with a distinguished alumni award. He received his Ph.D. in Communication from North Dakota State University and a Bachelor of Science in Speech Communication from Wayne State College.
ABOUT KENT STATE’S SCHOLAR OF THE MONTH
Kent State’s Scholar of the Month recognizes faculty researchers and scholars whose recent work has had an important impact on their professional fields and has brought exposure to the university. Each month, a different college will have the opportunity to nominate a researcher/scholar for this recognition. There is also a month when a faculty member from the Regional Campuses will be featured.
The selection process is in the hands of the dean and his or her colleagues and faculty. Hence, this is recognition by the person’s college colleagues that is then taken up by the university. The deans communicate the person’s name to the Division of Research and Sponsored Programs for recognition as Scholar of the Month.