Rutgers SC&I Shines at CSCA 95th Annual Conference
Faculty, doctoral students, and alumni from the Rutgers School of Communication and Information (SC&I) are participating in the 95th Annual Central States Communication Association (CSCA) Conference, held April 14–19, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This year’s theme is “Translate!”; it challenges communicators to turn scholarship into practice—bringing research and teaching into communities, classrooms, and workplaces.
Associate Professor of Communication Kristina Scharp, First Vice President of CSCA, played a central role in shaping the conference, serving as the primary program planner and providing leadership for the academic program.
Professor of Communication Jennifer Theiss will attend to support graduate student recruitment and engage prospective doctoral students interested in Rutgers’ Ph.D. program.
SC&I doctoral students Heather Davenport and Haley Nolan‑Cody will present research and participate in panels focused on communication, media, and interpersonal scholarship. SC&I alum Cimmiaron (Cimmi) Alvarez, Ph.D.’25, will also present and serve as a panel participant, reflecting the continued scholarly engagement of SC&I graduates in the field. Several additional SC&I alumni will attend the conference as well.
Professor of Communication Maria Venetis serves on CSCA’s Federation Committee, contributing to association leadership and governance.
Together, SC&I’s participation at CSCA reflects the school’s sustained commitment to research, leadership, and graduate education in communication.
About the Central States Communication Association (CSCA)
Founded in 1931, CSCA is a professional academic organization of communication teachers, students, and scholars, and has grown to become the largest regional communication association in the United States and the fourth largest academic communication association in the world.
About SC&I’s Ph.D. Program
SC&I’s Ph.D. Program in Communication, Information, and Media offers interdisciplinary doctoral training for scholarly and professional leadership across communication, information science, and media studies. Within the Communication concentration, doctoral students pursue problem‑oriented, theory‑informed research spanning communication and technology, computational social science, health communication, interpersonal and family communication, language and social interaction, and organizational communication.
Learn more. Visit the CSCA Convention Overview page for conference details and updates. For the full schedule and listings, see the official 2026 Convention Program.
