Karla Hunter

Professor of Communication Studies

Email 605-688-6131

Biography

Karla M. Hunter, Ph.D., is a professor of communication studies whose teaching, research and service integrate health, education and public policy to advance equitable wellness and well‑being. Through evidence‑based, relationship‑enhancing education, her work emphasizes interpersonal communication, conflict and forgiveness, listening competence, culturally responsive teaching and kinship‑based approaches to community‑based participatory research. She designs learning environments that cultivate agency, emotional intelligence and relational skill development; mentors students and colleagues in relationship‑centered teaching; and collaborates with Indigenous communities to elevate kinship, reciprocity and ethical relationality in research and education. Her work across undergraduate, graduate and community contexts reflects a sustained commitment to strengthening personal and social relationships and advancing equitable wellness.

Partnering with communities and multidisciplinary research teams, Dr. Hunter co‑designs and tests culturally responsive interventions to strengthen self‑efficacy, garnering more than $700,000 in external funding from the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, the Waterhouse Family Institute, National Communication Association and the Mellon Foundation. She has authored or co‑authored 21 refereed journal articles, an academic textbook, and peer‑reviewed open educational resources downloaded over 9,900 times across six continents. She and her students and colleagues have shared their work with scholars and educational leaders across the United States, Siberia and the West Indies. Recent projects include Harvesting Hope, a Native American student story‑sharing initiative focused on educational persistence; culture‑centric messaging to destigmatize palliative care in South Dakota’s reservation communities; and an interdisciplinary effort to expand educational opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals.

Education

Ph.D. in communication studies | University of Oklahoma | 2000
M.A. in communication studies | University of Oklahoma | 1995
B.A. in mass communication | Augustana College | 1992

Academic and Professional Experience

Academic Interests

My teaching is grounded in a relational philosophy shaped by three guiding commitments: befriend, enlighten and learn. I believe that strong, healthy relationships are the foundation of learning, resilience and community well-being, and I design every aspect of my teaching, mentorship and scholarship to reflect that truth. Across face-to-face, online and community-engaged contexts, I work to create learning environments where students feel known, supported and challenged; where they develop metacognition, agency and cultural humility; and where communication becomes not just a skillset but a relational ethic. My classrooms, research partnerships and mentorships all embody the same core conviction: transformative education begins with authentic connection and grows through shared inquiry, ultimately empowering students to communicate with integrity and relational responsibility in their personal, professional and civic lives.

Academic Responsibilities

Teaching is my primary responsibility at SDSU. I enact my passion for translating research into measurable, positive impacts on wellness and well-being, especially for underserved populations, through teaching activities designed to foster students' translational communication skills, enabling them to enhance public accessibility and utility of research and scholarship. Perhaps my most rewarding teaching and learning have been in my past six years building up to and aligning with SDSU’s Wokini Initiative, our “collaborative and holistic framework to support American Indian student success and Indigenous Nation-building.”

In 2016, prior to the launch of the Wokini Initiative, I was invited to begin designing and teaching courses for Tribal College and University (TCU) faculty members while helping them maintain their institutions’ Higher Learning Commission (HLC) credentialing. Collaborations with faculty and administrators from SDSU as well as North and South Dakota’s TCUs to design and deliver a novel sequence of online, multi-student, independent study courses in communication studies. These courses offer faculty/students graduate-level credit for applying communication theory-framed insights to mitigate educational challenges for themselves and for their own students. Resonant with SDSU’s current strategic plan, Imagine 2023 (Key Performance Indicator No. 3: Cultivate and Strengthen Community Engagement), this work “Align[s] academic and outreach programming across the university to optimize institutional efforts to support tribal communities and underserved populations.” As a direct result of this outreach, I was awarded two SDSU Expanding the Circle stipends. In addition, these opportunities underpinned the development and launch of the "Harnessing Hope" project, for which I have been awarded external funding from the Waterhouse Family Institute as well as a Wokini challenge grant.

Select Invited Lectures (of 50+ invited lectures):

Hunter, K.M. (2022). Overcoming Public Speaking Anxiety. Invited 3-day seminar, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago.
Hunter, K.M. (2020). Designing effective online discussions. Faculty Online Certification Trainer, South Dakota State University Instructional Design Services.
Hunter, K.M. (2020). Cultivating controversial conversations. Competitively chosen presentation for the Teaching and Learning selection of the annual Sewrey Colloquium, South Dakota State University Faculty Celebration of Excellence.
Hunter, K.M. (2019). Facilitating Difficult Classroom Dialogues. Graduate Teaching Assistant Training, South Dakota State University School of Communication and Journalism.
Hunter, K.M. (2019). Optimal Connection Speed: Enhancing Online Instructor Immediacy. Faculty Online Certification Trainer, South Dakota State University Instructional Design Services.

Committees and Professional Memberships

Service Commitments:

School of Communication and Journalism

Master of Arts Graduate Coordinator (current)
Assessment Committee (2015-present; Chair 2015-2022; previously for Department of Communication Studies)
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, School of Communication and Journalism (2019-present; Chair 2021-2022)

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences/University:

Faculty Council (2021-2025 term)
Tenure and Promotion Committee, (2020-2023)
Faculty Fellow, Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning (2022-2024)

State Level:

Founding Editor of Discourse: The Journal of the SCASD, state journal for the Speech Communication Association of South Dakota (2013-15), premier volume awarded Outstanding State Journal of the Year, Central States Communication Association (2015)
Member of State Executive Committee
Speech Communication Association of South Dakota (2013-2015)
South Dakota Humanities Council Scholar (2016-2021)

Regional/National Level:

Invited Reviewer for Waterhouse Family Institute International Grant Competition (2022; 2024; 2025)
National Advisory Board Member for Lambda Pi Eta Communication Studies Honors Association (2018-2020)
Chair, Central States Communication Association Basic Course Division (2016-2017)
Member of multi-year, national, multi-institutional team for assessment of the Basic Communication Course

Professional Memberships:

National Communication Association
Central States Communication Association
Lambda Pi Eta, National Communication Studies Honors Society

Research and Scholarly Work

Areas of Research

Health Communication
Interpersonal Communication
Public Policy
Community-Based Participatory Research
Relationship-Based Teaching and Research

Awards and Honors

2026 Outstanding Researcher Award, SDSU Division of Research and Economic Development, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
2025 Jack Kay Award for Community Engagement and Applied Communication Scholarship, Central States Communication Association
2025 Top Scientific Poster Abstract Award with Dr. Mary Isaacson, Dr. Semhar Michael, Gina Johnson, and Kelley Le Beau, Hospice and Palliative Nurses’ Association (HPNA)
2025 Top Panel Award with Dr. Suzy Prentiss, Dr. Dakota Horn, Dr. Pat Gerke, and Dr. Joshua Westwick (Chair), National Communication Association Basic Course Division
2024 Outstanding State Journal Article with Dr. Joshua Westwick, Central States Communication Association
2023 Outstanding Social Science Research Award, SDSU College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
2022 Distinguished Service Award, Speech Communication Association of South Dakota
2022 Joyce Lampson Award for Excellence in Faculty Citizenship, South Dakota State University School of Communication and Journalism
2021 Top Paper awarded to Advisee for Master’s Project, Decolonizing Research Methodologies (Larissa Durkin, MA SDSU, 2020), Central States Communication Association Activism, Communication Ethics, and Social Justice division
2020 Sewrey Lecture, “Cultivating Controversial Conversations,” Competitively chosen presentation for the Teaching and Learning selection of the annual Sewrey Colloquium, South Dakota State University Faculty Celebration of Excellence
2019; 2018 Expanding the Circle, Awarded for designing and providing higher education opportunities for faculty members at Tribal Colleges and Universities, South Dakota State University
2016 Joyce Lampson Award for Excellence in Faculty Citizenship, SDSU Communication Studies Dept.
2016 Douglas M. Trank Top Paper of the Year Award, Basic Course Division, Central States Communication Association
2015 Central States Communication Top State Journal for Volume I of Discourse: The Journal of the Speech Communication Association of South Dakota (Karla Hunter, Founding Editor). Discourse: The Journal of the SCASD | Vol 1 | Iss 1 (sdstate.edu)
2014 National Communication Association Top Journal Article, Communication Competence and Anxiety Division, for Assessing Success: The Impacts of a Fundamentals of Public Speaking Course on Decreasing Public Speaking Anxiety. DOI: 10.1080/03634523.2013.875213
Top Paper Panelist, NCA Basic Course Interest Group (top four paper) 2014, 2016; NCA Communication Apprehension and Competence Division (top four paper) 2014; CSCA Basic Course Interest Group (top three paper) 2012, 2013, 2014, (top paper) 2016*
2014 Top States’ Advisory Showcase Panel, Central States Communication Association
2011 Senator Thomas A. Daschle Research Fellow, South Dakota State University

Grants

Externally Funded Proposals:

Jensen, A., Folsom, J.J., Lounsbery, N. and Hunter, K.M. Harvesting Hope: Indigenous Undergraduate Researchers Measuring Impacts of their Self-Narrative Documentaries on Peers’ College Enrollment and Persistence Beliefs. National Science Foundation. EPSCoR RRI Track 1 Undergraduate Research Experience Grant, National Scope, $117,555. Fully Funded. (2024).
Hunter, K.M. (with others). Harvesting Hope: Decolonizing Research on Native American Students’ College Persistence. Waterhouse Family Institute for the Study of Communication and Society, Private Foundation, International Scope, $10,000.00. Fully Funded. (2023-2024). 12% Acceptance Rate.
Isaacson, M. (PD/PI) and Hunter, K.M. (Co-PI). Culturally Responsive Palliative Care Messaging for American Indians: An Efficacy Trial. National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, Federal Scope, $401,388.00 (partially funded). (2023-2025).
Hunter, K.M. Harnessing Hope: Decolonizing Research on Native American Students’ College Persistence. Waterhouse Family Institute for the Study of Communication and Society, Private Foundation, International Scope, $9960.00. Fully Funded. (2019-2020). 19% Acceptance Rate. Completed.
Hunter, K.M. (with national, multi-institutional assessment research team). A National-level Assessment of Core Competencies in the Basic Communication Course. National Communication Association, Federal, $5,000.00. Fully Funded. (2016-2017). Completed.

Internally Funded Grant Proposals:

Hunter, K., Jensen, A.I., Folsom, J.J. and Lounsbery, N. Harvesting Hope: Indigenous Undergraduate Self-Narrative Documentaries’ Impact on Peers’ College Enrollment and Persistence Beliefs. Karen McComish Interdisciplinary Faculty Research Program, $5020. Fully Funded. (2024-2025).
Folsom, J.J., Jensen, A.I., Hunter, K.M. and Lounsbery, N. Harvesting Hope. RSCA Challenge Grant. $15,000. Fully Funded. (2024-2025).
Hunter, K.M. Harnessing Hope: Decolonizing Research on Native American Students’ College Persistence. SDSU Wokini Challenge Grant, $ 6600. Fully Funded. (2020-2023).
Development of the Social Media Analysis, Research and Teaching (SMART) Center. Britt, B., Britt, R., Hunter, K.M. and Lucchesi, R. (with Carlile, A.). South Dakota State University Funds for Scholarly Excellence, Establishment of a Center/Institute, 2016-2017 ($8617 requested; $4000 funded 2016-2017).

Publications

Select Recent and Relevant Publications/Presentations:

Textbook

Hunter, K.M. (2021). Interpersonal development: 21st Century skills for the real and virtual world. Kendall/Hunt.

Select Peer-reviewed U.S. Conference Presentations and Workshops

Durkin, L. (co-chair; graduated Masters advisee), Hunter, K.M. (co-chair), Berndt, V. (graduate student), Catlett-Ausorn, M., Glaus, C. (undergraduate student), Hammer, L. (undergraduate student), Moore, E. and Okroi, S. (November, 2021). A transformational journey toward Indigenizing community-based participatory scholarship. A full-day, preconference workshop to be presented at the annual meeting of the National Communication Association, Seattle, WA.
Hunter, K., Health communication and social justice panel (with others). (March 2021). Central States Communication Association.
Prentiss, S. (co-chair), Hunter, K.M. (co-chair), Atkinson, J.A., Cuny, K.M., Davidson, M., Dwyer, K.K. and Hernandez, L. National Communication Association. Preconference, Surviving and Thriving Teaching Communication Online (Nov. 2019).
Bedner, N., Hunter, K.M. and Ruiz-Mesa, K. National Communication Association. Short Course, Play Civilly: Creative and Innovative Actions for Engaging in Civil Discourse in the Basic Course. Salt Lake City, UT. (Nov. 2018).
Hunter, K.M. Strengthening Representation of Neurodivergent Voices through Children’s Literature. Milton Writers’ Conference, Vermillion, SD. (Oct. 2018).

International Conference Presentations/Seminars

Hunter, K.M. (2022). Overcoming Public Speaking Anxiety. Invited 3-day seminar, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago.
Hunter, K.M., Westwick, J.N., Pedagogics and Psychology in the Integrated Area of Research and Practice, A Proven Public Speaking Course Design to Help Reduce Public Speaking Anxiety, Mendeleev Tobolsk Pedagogical Institute, Tyumen State University, Tobolsk, Russia. (April 14, 2017).

Most Recent Peer-reviewed Journal Articles

Westwick, J., Carlile, C., Chromey, K. and Hunter, K. (In Press). A shakedown of warm-ups: an assessment of pre-speech exercises’ impact on public speaking anxiety. Speaker and Gavel.
Hunter, K.M., Westwick, J.N. and Chromey, K.J. (2020). Best practices for teaching online courses with dually enrolled students. Journal on Excellence in College Teaching, 31, 61-83.
Hunter, K.M. and Westwick, J.N. (2020). “I see your True Colors:” Mitigating grouphate by exploring personality differences. Communication Teacher, 34, 19-23.
Ruiz-Mesa, K. and Hunter, K.M. (2019). Best practices for leading difficult discussions in the basic communication course classroom. Journal of Communication Pedagogy, 2, 134-141.
Westwick, J.N., Hunter, K.M. and Kleinjan, B. (2019). Anxiety and communication competence in the honors basic public speaking course: An intervention and formative assessment. Basic Communication Course Annual, 31, Article 9.
Broeckelman-Post, M.A., Hunter, K.M., Westwick, J.N., Hosek, A., Ruiz-Mesa, K., Hooker, J. and Anderson, L.B. (2019). Measuring essential learning outcomes for public speaking. Basic Communication Course Annual, 31, Article 10.

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