Dear ECA Community,
I hope this message finds you well and that you are enjoying a restful and productive summer. I am writing to share several important updates and announcements from ECA.
CRR Editor-Elect
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Sara LaBelle on her appointment as Editor-Elect of Communication Research Reports (CRR). Sara is an Associate Professor and Associate Dean at Chapman University and a long-standing member of ECA. Over the coming months, she will be onboarding and training with current CRR Editor, Dr. Dave Keating. Dave’s term will conclude at the end of 2025, and Sara will officially begin her term as Editor on January 1, 2026. We are deeply grateful to Dave for his outstanding leadership and service to the journal and to ECA. Congratulations to both Sara and Dave!
ECA Incoming Executive Director
I am also pleased to announce that Dr. Katherine Thweatt has been appointed as the next Executive Director of ECA. Katherine is an Associate Professor at SUNY Oswego and a Past President of ECA. She brings extensive experience and a deep commitment to our association. Her term as Executive Director will begin on July 1, 2026. In the meantime, she is working closely with our current Executive Director, Dr. Stacy Smulowitz, as part of the transition process. Please join me in congratulating Katherine and in thanking Stacy for her extraordinary leadership and continued service to ECA.
ECA 2026: Pittsburgh
Submissions are now open for ECA 2026, and we hope you will join us in Pittsburgh! Our First Vice President, Jessica Papajcik, is leading the planning for the convention, and she and her team are already hard at work designing exciting program offerings. ECA 2026 will take place April 9-12, 2026, at the Sheraton Station Square in Pittsburgh. To submit your work or learn more about the convention, please visit this link.
Teaching Resource Depository
As mentioned during my address in Buffalo, one of my goals for this year is to increase resource sharing among ECA members. To that end, we are developing a space on the "Members" area of the ECA website to house teaching-related materials, including course syllabi and instructional activities. This depository will serve as a valuable resource for both new and experienced instructors looking for inspiration or support. If you would like to contribute a syllabus or instructional activity to the repository, please visit this link to submit your materials.
Upcoming ECA Election
We will soon be holding our annual ECA elections, with voting scheduled to open in September. This is an important opportunity for members to help shape the future of the association by casting their votes for incoming leaders. Please keep an eye on your email for additional details about the ballot and candidate information in the coming weeks.
Thank you for your continued engagement with ECA. As we look ahead to our 2026 convention in Pittsburgh, I encourage you to spread the word and invite your colleagues and students to join us for what promises to be a fantastic gathering of scholars, teachers, and professionals.
Warmly,
Jordan Atkinson, Ph.D.
Program Director and Professor of the Practice
University of Kansas
President, Eastern Communication Association
Follow ECA on: