Faculty

 

 


Michael L. Hecht


Distinguished Professor of Liberal Arts Research Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences and Crime, Law, and Justice

 

Office: 229 Sparks Building


Telephone: (814) 863-3545

Fax: (814) 863-7986
E-mail: mlh10@psu.edu

Curriculum Vitae

 

 

 

 

 

EDUCATION:

 

  • B.A., Queens College, 1971
  • M.A., Queens College, 1973
  • Ph.D., University of Illinois, 1976

 

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS:

 

I am interested in understanding how people can be successful and effective communicators, developing theory and practice in the areas of interpersonal and inter-ethnic relationships, identity, and adolescent drug resistance. I have been awarded a series of National Institute on Drug Abuse (National Institutes of Health) grants to understand the social processes of adolescent drug offers. This work was used to develop a multicultural drug prevention program for seventh graders, called keepin' it REAL, that was selected as a “model program” by the National Registry of Effective Programs for its ability to influence adolescent drug use. I recently authored and edited books on culture, prejudice and communication, adolescent drug use, and nonverbal communication.

I have conducted nationwide marketing, needs assessment, and employee attitude research for companies such as Xerox, ARCO, GTE, Jackson National Life Insurance, and U-Haul as well as training on topics such as meeting management, nonverbal communication, and presentation skills. I've conducted evaluation research for federally funded drug abuse and crime prevention and treatment programs and for mental health agencies and served on school district advisory boards for technology and for drug and alcohol education as well as on a citizens advisory board for a hospital.

 

COURSES:

 

CAS 203: Interpersonal Communication (sample syllabus)
CAS 403: Interpersonal Oral Communication Theory
CAS 470: Nonverbal Communication (Spring 2006 syllabus)
CAS 555: Seminar in Interpersonal Communication
CAS 571: Cross-Cultural Communication

 

RESEARCH AREAS:

 

Identity
Prejudice
Ethnicity
Communication Satisfaction
Adolescent Drug Resistance
Romantic Love

 

AWARDS:

  • National Communication Association’s African American Communication & Culture Division's 2003 Distinguished Scholarship Award.
  • Gerald R. Philips Award for Distinguished Applied Communication Scholarship, National Communication Association, 2001.
  • International Television Video Association Award (ITVA), 1999, Arizona competition for Student PSA Production.
  • Distinguished Scholarship Award, Applied Communication Division, National Communication Association, 1997
  • Distinguished Scholarship Award, International and Intercultural Division, Speech Communication Association, 1993
  • Silver Medalist, Questar Awards, May, 1991, for drug prevention video, "Killing Time"
  • Finalist, International Film and Video Festival of New York, January, 1991, for drug prevention video, "Killing Time"
  • Article of the Year Award, SIETAR, 1991
  • Distinguished Scholarship Award, International and Intercultural Division, Speech Communication Association, 1989
  • Access Producers Achievement Award, Dickenson Cablesystems, for "Kids Broadcasting System News," 1982

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