• faculty teaching class
  • students in discussion
  • communication theory class

Relate, Motivate, Communicate.

Enacting interpersonal, group, and public communication solutions for resilient and sustainable communities. 

Department of Communication Studies in the News Center

COMversations at 51ԹϺ

COMversations at 51ԹϺ is the semi-monthly podcast series produced by the Department of Communication Studies. COMversations at 51ԹϺ features the stories behind the faculty, staff and students who work and learn in the Communication Studies department. In each episode you'll have the opportunity to hear directly from our researchers, instructors and grad students, gaining insight into their backstories, their interests, and the impacts they're making at 51ԹϺ and beyond.

Subscribe to COMversations at 51ԹϺ via , or your podcast platform of choice.

More about COMversations

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Exterior of Greespun Hall

Student Organizations

Join a student organization and form lasting bonds with classmates and the faculty advisors, and enrich your classroom experience by applying what you learn to work in the community. In addition to the university's registered student organizations, the department clubs include:

  • Lambda Pi Eta
  • National Communication Association Student Club
  • United Conversations Network
  • 51ԹϺ Debate Team

Accomplishments

In The News

  • | KNPR News
  • | Las Vegas Sun
  • | KSNV-TV: News 3

Experts

Upcoming Events

No events available at this time.

“The art of communication is the language of leadership.”

James Humes

The Department of Communication Studies is one of the departments in the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs.

Class Notes

Laurie Eden

Laurie (McRitchie) Eden, '00 BA Communication Studies, is the co-creator of the book series, Tater Tot and Shadow, created with her mother, a retired Clark County School District teacher. Inspired by her love for rescue dogs and travel, the book series follows the travel adventures of her two jet-setting rescue chihuahuas as they explore exciting and historic locales across the United States. Her fourth book, Tater Tot and Shadow Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas, is a top seller on Amazon’s Top Wishlist Travel Books for Nevada. As a native, she blends some of her favorite memories of growing up in the Entertainment Capital of the World and the Las Vegas that people know today. When Eden isn’t writing, she’s traveling with her husband, planning events, selling real estate, and checking out the latest restaurants in Austin, Texas, where she resides.

Eric Sway

Eric Sway, ‘99 BA Communication Studies, has 23 years of outside sales experience — 13 years selling steel and 10 years selling building products for commercial and industrial buildings in northeast Ohio. Sway has been a varsity soccer coach for five years. He'd head coach for both girls and boys soccer at Crestwood High School in Mantua, Ohio. He's also head coach for U17 and U19 girls at Canton-Akron Force FC, where they just won the U17 Ohio State Championship. He also had the opportunity to coach in the nation championship in July 2024 in Denver. He's been married to Stacee (Appiano) Sway for 23 years. They met in the Boyd Hall dorms in 1997. They have a 22-year-old son Andrew, who is a senior at 51ԹϺ where he's been the goal keeper on the 51ԹϺ men’s soccer team for the last four years. Andrew will graduate from 51ԹϺ this December. Sway still misses and loves Las Vegas, 51ԹϺ, and visits two to four times yearly and is just as proud to be a 51ԹϺ Rebel as he was in 1997 when he first attended.    

Tim Rainey

Tim Rainey, '04 BA Communication Studies, was tapped by iHeartMedia to be the new program director of heritage Top 40 KKRZ (Z100) and Rhythmic KXJM (Jam'n 107.5)/Portland. Rainey previously was the senior director of content marketing for the Southern California News Group. His most recent programming gig was Audacy Top 40 KUDL (106.5 The End)/Sacramento from 2015 until early 2021. His previous major programming stops include former CBS Radio Top 40 WDZH (98.7 AMP Radio)/Detroit and former Radio One Top 40 WNOU/Indianapolis.

Whitney Short

Whitney Short, '09 BA Communication Studies and '15 JD, and Amanda Stevens, '15 JD, have teamed up to start Short & Stevens Law, LLC, a law firm practicing in the areas of estate planning, probate, business law, and real estate law. Both have multiple degrees from 51ԹϺ and spend many volunteer hours helping the Las Vegas Valley community. They are excited for their new adventure and cannot wait to see what the future holds.