Em Griffin is Professor of Communication at Wheaton College in Illinois, where he has taught for the past twenty-six years and has been chosen Teacher of the Year. He received his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Michigan, and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Communication from Northwestern University. His research interest centers on the development of close friendships.Professor Griffin is the author of three applied communication books: The Mind Changers analyzes practical techniques of persuasion; Getting Together offers research-based suggestions for effective group leadership; and Making Friends describes the way that quality interpersonal communication can… build close relationships. He also speaks and leads workshops on these topics in the United States, Singapore, and the Philippines. Professor Griffin’s wife, Jean, is an artist. They have two adult children, Jim and Sharon.
Andrew Ledbetter is an Associate Professor of Communication Studies at Texas Christian University. He received his M.A. and Ph.D. in communication studies from the University of Kansas. His research addresses how people use communication technology to maintain their interpersonal relationships. A related interest concerns how parent-child communication predicts health and well-being. Andrew has published more than 35 articles and received recognition for teaching excellence from both the National Communication Association and Central States Communication Association. His wife, Jessica, is a former attorney who teaches business law at Texas Christian University. With their daughters, Sydney… and Kira, they enjoy involvement in their church, playing board and card games, reading, cooking, and following the TCU Horned Frogs and Kansas Jayhawks. You can reach Andrew at a.ledbetter@tcu.edu, visit his blog at www.andrewledbetter.com, or follow him on Twitter via @dr_ledbetter.
Glenn Sparks is a professor and noted researcher of Mass Communication in the Brian Lamb School of Communication at Purdue University where he served for twelve years as the associate head. He previously taught in the Department of Communication at Cleveland State University. His area of expertise is the cognitive and emotional effects of the media. Over the last thirty years, Dr. Sparks has published research on a number of different media effects, including the effects of frightening media, fear of criminal victimization, media violence, paranormal depictions and the CSI effect. His future research will most likely involve new technology and interpersonal relationships-a topic he… considers immensely important. He collaborated with Dr. Will Miller on this theme in their book REFRIGERATOR RIGHTS: OUR CRUCIAL NEED FOR CLOSE CONNECTION, which was nominated as a finalist for a 2003 "Books for a Better Life" Award given by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. In addition, he is a coauthor with Em Griffin and Andrew Ledbetter on the popular A FIRST LOOK AT COMMUNICATION THEORY. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.