Stephen Spates

Dr. Stephen A. Spates is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication. His primary areas of research are related to cultural communication and organizational communication. He has published research in communication journals as well as authoring two books in organizational communication. In the classroom, his instructional expertise focuses on diversity-related communication messages. He has successfully fused the areas of research and application by providing professional workshops and seminars that help individuals learn more about bias and discrimination messages. Dr. Spates has also collaborated with several universities, and community organizations, to educate their populations in healthy conversations on bias and discrimination. He is the co-editor on the upcoming book project, Reconciliation: The Final Step in Achieving Nonviolent Social Change.

A proud Michigander, Dr. Spates finds roots throughout the state. He was born and raised in Detroit, and also grew up in the rural SW area of Berrien Springs, MI. Dr. Spates is also a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and a HBCU alum from Oakwood University, where he received his bachelors. His masters degree in communication is from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, and his Ph.D. in communication and information is from the University of Tennessee.

Faculty Advisor, Undergraduate Communication Association (UCA)

Member, Black Faculty, Staff, and Administrators Association

Cultural Communication

Organizational Communication

Health Communication

Human-Machine Communication