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Mark Hickson

Professor

Research and Teaching Interests: Nonverbal Communication, Applied Communication Research, Communication Theory

Office Hours: By appointment only

Education:

  • B.S., Auburn University, Secondary Education
  • M.A., Auburn University, Broadcasting
  • M.A., Mississippi State University, Sociology
  • Ph.D., Southern Illinois University
  • J.D., Birmingham School of Law

Mark Hickson grew up in Georgia, where he was a radio announcer, before beginning college at Auburn University. He student-taught history at Opelika High School. He remained at Auburn for an MA in Broadcasting. Subsequently, he completed his Ph.D. in interpersonal and organizational communication at Southern Illinois University. His first full-time teaching position was at Mississippi State University, where he taught public speaking, parliamentary procedure, small group communication, interpersonal communication, and nonverbal communication, among others. He served in the US Army as an editor of counterintelligence and counterterrorism publications.

Hickson has been teaching at UAB for more than 25 years. He has received the President’s Teaching Award at UAB as well as teaching awards from the Eastern Communication Association and the Southern Communication Association.

  • Research Interests
    • Nonverbal Communication
    • Applied Communication Research
    • Communication Theory
  • Recent Courses
    • Introduction to Human Communication
    • Foundations of Communication Management
    • Nonverbal Communication
    • Propaganda and Pulic Persuasion
    • Communication and the Law
    • Qualitative Research Methods in Communication
  • Select Publications
    • With L. Powell. (2016). The political blame game in American democracy.
  • Academic Distinctions and Professional Societies
    • National Communication Association, Phillips Award in Applied Communication Research
    • Southern Communication Association, Excellence in Teaching Award
    • UAB, President's Excellence in Teaching Award
    • Eastern Communication Association, Research Fellow
    • Eastern Communication Association, Teaching Fellow
    • Southern Communication Association, Telly Award for Videography
    • Southern Communication Association, Excellence in Service
    • Who's Who in America