Dakota Horn

Biography

Dr. Dakota Horn is the Associate Dean for Academic Programs in the Slane College of Communications and Fine Arts, tenured Associate Professor in the Department of Communication, Director of the COM 103 The Oral Communication Process Course, and founding director of the campus-wide Presentation Assistance Center. Dakota is an award-winning educator, receiving the Outstanding Teacher Award from the nationally recognized Central States Communication Association.

His education involves communication and education studies with a Bachelors and Masters in communication from Western Illinois University and a Doctorate in Teaching and Learning from Illinois State University. His research interests include communication pedagogy, instructional communication, instructional clarity, and other education related communication. Since joining Bradley (2018), Dr. Horn has published numerous articles and book chapters all of which appear in highly respected outlets (e.g., Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, The Routledge Handbook of Public Speaking Research). He published one of the most successful books about public speaking, Principles of Public Speaking (Routledge), now in its 21 st edition. Further, he has given 30+ presentations at regional, national, and international conferences such as the National Communication Association, Central States Communication Association, International Association of Media and Communication Research, and the National Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement conference. Dr. Horn has co-authored publications with students, staff, affiliate, and tenure-track faculty at Bradley.

His publications address several imperative topics, including ways to incorporate civic engagement in our teaching and learning, nuances of online education, the use of humor, storytelling, and technology in public presentations, and strategies for navigating and alleviating communication anxiety.

His current research initiatives include teacher/student relationships that increase clarity and decrease anxiety as well as supporting student learning. He believes the introductory communication/oral communication course is the cornerstone to a successful student and citizen. Before joining Bradley University, he worked in government, with a Fortune 100 company, and with K- 12 schools on curriculum and policy.