Lacy McNamee

Graduate Program Director and Associate Professor of Communication

Lacy_McNamee@baylor.edu

Phone

(254) 710-4698

High Res Photo

Office Information:

Office: Castellaw Communications Center 156
Office Hours (Fall 2020): Wednesday and Thursday by appointment

Mailing Address:

Baylor University
Department of Communication
One Bear Place #97368
Waco, TX 76798-7368

Lacy McNamee Vitae 2020

Educational Background:

B.A. Journalism, Baylor University
M.A. Organizational Communication, Baylor University
Ph.D. Organizational Communication, University of Texas at Austin

Courses:

CSS 3310: Communication Theory
CSS 4301: Organizational Communication
CSS 4305: Nonprofit Communication
CSS 4V85: Special Problems in Communication Studies
CSS 5316: Seminar in Organizational Communication
CSS 5321: Org. membership and Identity
CSS 5351: Methods in Graduate Studies

Current Research Interest Areas:

I study how people negotiate their roles, relationships, and power in organizations through communication. When conducting research, I am particularly sensitive to the tensions at play between different types of members in faith-based and nonprofit settings- for example, paid staff and volunteers. The goal of my research is to increase our understandings of different membership experiences and develop theories of organizational socialization and identification that apply to a broader range of organizational memberships and contexts. I am currently examining the relationships between nonprofit employees and volunteers, as well as how ethereal concepts like faith and intuition are communicatively constructed in organizations and to what ends.

Teaching Philosophy:

I strive to embody the model of scholar-teacher by integrating my own research as well as the scholarship of our field into the classroom. There is such rich and exciting research being conducted in communication studies that can inspire our students’ thinking about problems and challenges they face in their personal and professional lives. No matter whether I’m teaching Communication Theory (CSS 3310) or Organizational Communication (CSS 4301), I challenge my students to engage in critical thinking about real world issues and develop their own perspectives. Thus, my classroom is a place where we debate and dialogue together as we apply the concepts and theories we’re learning to practical issues of the day.

I am also passionate about helping students pursue their professional goals and position themselves for success after graduation. I particularly love the opportunity that I have as the Program Director for the Joint B.A./M.A. in Corporate Communication to closely mentor a small cohort of high performing students and see them chart off to future greatness!

Family, Outside Hobbies and Interests:

I am a proud Baylor alumna and am honored to work for my wonderful alma mater. My husband Doug also attended Baylor, and we love calling Waco home. Together, we spent much of our spare time keeping up with our daughters Josie (5) and Maggie (3), who fill our hearts and drain our energy! Outside of work, family, and Bear fandom, I also love to cook, volunteer with community organizations like Court Appointed Special Advocates, and be active (run, ride bikes, hike).

What is the best thing about being a Baylor Bear?

So many things to pick from! We’re a big time university with so many opportunities for our students, but we’re also small enough to feel like a family. I love knowing each of my students by name, learning about their life stories, and supporting them in any way I can as they discover and pursue their passions. I love walking through our beautiful campus and connecting with the faculty and staff that make this university so great. And what’s not to love about the powerhouse that is our athletic program? From football to tennis, there’s always an exciting opportunity to cheer our Bears on to victory!

Syllabi:

Syllabus CSS 4301 Organizational Communication
Syllabus CSS 3310 Communication Theory