Beth Bonniwell Haslett (Ph.D., University of Minnesota) is a retired professor in the Department of Communication, and held joint appointments in the Departments of Psychology and Women’s Studies. She was active in the communication discipline’s major organizations and a member of the editorial board of Communication Studies.

Her research and teaching interests focus on cross cultural communication and organizational communication. More specifically, she is very interested in Face, broadly defined as treating others with dignity and respect, and receiving this same treatment in return. As such, Face is important for establishing and maintaining effective social relationships with others. Strategies for honoring Face vary across cultures, although the importance of Face in interaction appears to be universal.

Her interest in organizations focuses on how communication varies as a function of organizational contexts, varying from NGOs (non-governmental organizations) to multinational organizations to governments. She is particularly interested in computer mediated communication in virtual organizations, and in the differences between face-to-face communication and computer mediated communication in organizations.

Communicating and organizing in context: The theory of structurational interaction combines her interests in cross cultural and organizational communication. This book reflects a new approach to analyzing communicative processes—structural interaction—and analyzes issues such as identity and identification in organizations, social presence, the impact of computer mediated communication on organizations and across cultures, processes of globalization, and leadership.

Beth taught public speaking, gender and communication, cross cultural communication, conflict, and organizational communication. In addition to providing students with current research findings in a given area, she encouraged students to develop critical and analytic thinking skills in her courses and apply this knowledge to their own lives and future careers. Hopefully, such knowledge benefits students in their personal and professional lives.

Courses Taught