The University of Southern Mississippi - Quality Enhancement Plan

Wendy Atkins-Sayre is Assistant Professor of Speech Communication and Director of the Speaking Center at the University of Southern Mississippi. Her teaching and research interests center on rhetorical criticism, with an emphasis on social movement rhetoric and feminist criticism. Her essay, “Governor Mom: The Controversy Surrounding Jane Swift’s Pregnancy,” analyzes discourse about pregnancy and motherhood in politics, and is forthcoming in Gender and Political Communication in America. Here research has appeared in Women & Language and her reviews have appeared in Quarterly Journal of Speech, Women’s Studies in Speech Communication, and Southern Communication Journal. Other research projects look at the rhetoric of animal rights and anti-animal rights groups. Her interest in speaking center and speech pedagogy developed while she served as editorial assistant for the journal Communication Education (2002-2005). She also served as the Director of the Speaking Center at Agnes Scott College (2005-2007). She earned her bachelor and master’s degrees in Speech Communication from Texas State University—San Marcos and her Ph.D. in Speech Communication from the University of Georgia.

Contact: Dr. Wendy Atkins-Sayre or 601-266-4370

Lajuan Davis is an assistant professor in the Department of Technology Education at the University of Southern Mississippi where she has been teaching part- and full-time since 1998. She holds a Ph.D. in technology education with a minor in adult education from Mississippi State University, a master’s degree in technology education from The University of Southern Mississippi, and a bachelor’s of science degree in business education/business management from Mississippi State.

Dr. Davis resumed her educational career at Southern Miss after working in various fields of business and industry for approximately 20 years. Her areas of expertise include business management, business communication, and public relations, and she has worked in the fields of medicine and media, as well.

During her career at Southern Miss, Dr. Davis has published articles in refereed journals, newsletters, and a chapter in a business education yearbook on topics such as utilizing WebQuests, necessary skills business students must possess, effective teaching, teaching with technology, teaching communication skills, and professionalism. She currently teaches multiple sections of business communication, business grammar, administrative office management, and computer technology courses, in addition to serving as a full-time academic advisor. Since 1998, Dr. Davis has been a frequent presenter at numerous state, regional, and national conferences.