Kris Paal
Associate Professor of Communication Studies and Civitae Speaking Coordinator

Kris Paal is an assistant professor in the Communication Studies department, where he teaches a variety of courses for the overall major and in the public relations concentration. Since 2014 he has taught courses such as Public Speaking, Inquiry into Citizenship, Introduction to Media Writing, Media and Society, Fundamentals of Public Relations, Conflict Resolution, Small Group Communication, Communication Ethics, and Communication Research. 

Dr. Paal contributes to the department and university in a variety of additional ways.  He currently serves as the Civitae Speaking Coordinator for the Civitae Core Curriculum, where he is heavily involved with the development of teaching, learning and evaluating speaking skills across the Core Curriculum. Paal is also a faculty consultant for the Center for Faculty Enrichment (CAFE) and provides general pedagogical support for faculty who are teaching and evaluating speaking.  He also serves as the academic advisor for the Nu Epsilon Chapter of Lambda Pi Eta, which is Longwood University’s chapter of the official honor society of the National Communication Association.

His current research projects include examining how consumer's understading of the elements of headlines and news stories contribute to news literacy and an examination of hashtag activism.

Kris earned his Ph.D in Communication Studies from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, and a B.A. in Speech Communication from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.