Laura Black, Ph.D.
Laura W. Black has a Ph.D. and M.A. in Communication from the University of Washington, and a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies from Miami University.
She studies group deliberation and dialogue with a special focus on storytelling, conflict, and group facilitation. She has worked on several applied research projects with organizations such as the Kettering Foundation, the Interactivity Foundation and local civic organizations to help improve community dialogue and decision-making processes. Some of her research has also investigated the use of online tools in deliberative forums. In all of these projects, she aims to understand how scholars and practitioners can further the deliberative ideals of well-informed, reasonable, respectful discussion about public issues, while also recognizing people’s need for connection, community, and an affirmation of their core values.
Dr. Black is the editor for the Journal of Public Deliberation. Sheedited the book Group Communication: Cases for Analysis, Appreciation, and Application also co-edited a special issue of the International Journal of Public Participation on the communication practices in public meetings. Her research has been published in journals such as Communication Theory, Small Group Research, and the Journal of Applied Communication Research as well as in several edited books on deliberation and democracy.
Dr. Black’s teaching areas include group communication, organizational communication, public deliberation, community engagement, discourse analysis, and applied research.
Laura Black: Public Conversations about Environment Health (opens in a new window)
Facilitating Public Conversation [Video] (opens in a new window)
NCA 5 Years Out Panel (Social Construction Video) (opens in a new window)