The Ohio Communication Journal is the Ohio Communication Association’s official publication. New issues are released online annually in the spring.

OCA members can access past volumes here: Journal Volumes –– Ohio Communication Journal

Welcome from the Editor

After serving as Associate Editor for the past two years, I am excited to begin my term as Editor for the Ohio Communication Journal (OCJ). It is a great honor to help lead this longstanding, highly reputable publication. I am grateful to the Ohio Communication Association’s Executive Board for providing me this opportunity.

As I transition into this new role, I’d like to thank Dr. Jeff Kuznekoff (Miami University, Hamilton) for his fabulous work as OCJ Editor; the high-quality scholarship that appears in the past two volumes is a testament to his dedication and leadership. It was a pleasure to work with Dr. Kuznekoff, and I hope to live up to the high standards he has set. I’d also like to welcome Dr. Andrea Meluch (University of Akron), our newly appointed Associate Editor. We are fortunate to have Dr. Meluch in this role, and I look forward to partnering with her on our upcoming issues.

I invite Ohio-based scholars and those residing in other parts of the world to contribute to this award-winning, peer-reviewed publication. With a generous review board and dedicated authors, our journal features cutting-edge scholarship, ranging in methodological and theoretical approach, focused on a broad array of communication contexts and contemporary societal issues. We begin accepting new manuscripts for each volume over the summer, with a submission deadline in early fall. Please see the most recent call for submissions here: Call for Submissions. We accept full-length research reports (typically 5,000-7,500 words) and short essays (>2,500 words) focusing on relevant disciplinary issues. Submission guidelines are available here: Submission Guidelines.

To our authors and reviewers –– please know that you are deeply appreciated. Your contributions are the drivers of OCJ’s continued success. I look forward to working with you.

Sincerely,

Patrick J. Dillon, Ph.D.
Kent State University at Stark
Editor, Ohio Communication Journal

EDITORIAL BOARD

Patrick Dillon

Editor-in-Chief for the Ohio Communication Association Journal

Patrick Dillon (Ph.D., University of South Florida) is Associate Professor in the School of Communication Studies at Kent State University. He is a resident faculty member at the Kent State Stark Campus, where he also serves as Academic Program Coordinator for the College of Communication and Information. He teaches courses in the Applied Communication concentration and conducts health communication research on three primary topics: (1) end-of-life care, (2) HIV/AIDS, and (3) substance abuse. The OCJ Editor is appointed by the Executive Committee and serves for a period of two years. Patrick was appointed in 2023, after serving two years as OCJ Associate Editor.

Andrea Meluch

Associate Journal Editor

Andrea L. Meluch (PhD, Kent State University) is an Assistant Professor of Business and Organizational Communication in the School of Communication and Department of Management at The University of Akron, Akron, OH. Her research focuses on the intersections of health, organizational, and instructional communication. Specifically, she is interested in issues of organizational culture, mental health, and social support. The OCJ Associate Editor is appointed by the Executive Committee and serves for a period of two years. Andrea was appointed in 2023.

Journal Review Board (2019-2023)

• Benjamin Bates, Ohio University
• Christina Beck, Ohio University
• Tammy Bosley, Lorain CC
• Nicole Blau, Ohio University–Lancaster
• Cody Clemens, Marietta College
• Rebecca Curnalia, Youngstown State University
• John Dowd, Bowling Green State University
• Jerry Feezel, Kent State University
• Amber Ferris, University of Akron
• Clare Gross, Baldwin Wallace
• Lois Foreman-Wernet, Capital University
• Radhika Gajjala, Bowling Green State University
• Lisa Hanasono, Bowling Green State University
• Stephen Haas, University of Cincinnati
• Erin Hollenbaugh, Kent State University at Stark
• Angela Hosek, Ohio University
• Heather Howley, University of Akron–Wayne College
• Kristen Hungerford, N/A
• Nancy Jennings, University of Cincinnati
• Pamela Kaylor, Ohio University–Lancaster
• Jeffrey Kurtz, Denison University
• Jenna Lo Castro, Point Park University
• Lisa Marshall, Muskingum University
• Kevin Meyer, Illinois State University
• James Ponder, Kent State University
• Laura Russell, Denison University
• Rekha Sharma, Kent State University
• Leland Spencer, Miami University of Ohio, Hamilton
• Shawn Starcher, Muskingum University
• Shane Tilton, Ohio Northern University
• Candice Thomas-Maddox, Ohio University–Lancaster
• Thomas Wagner, Xavier University
• Heather Walter, University of Akron