Applying Communication Theory for Professional Life : A Practical Introduction

Marianne Dainton (MA, PhD, The Ohio State University; BA, Villanova University) is professor of communication at La Salle University in Philadelphia, where she also serves as Director of Graduate Studies. She teaches communication theory, interpersonal communication, group communication, and organizational communication. Marianne’s research focuses on communication that facilitates relationship maintenance. She has published in Communication Monographs, the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, Family Relations, and Communication Quarterly, among other places. She has also published numerous book chapters; is the coeditor (with Daniel Canary) of the Erlbaum book Maintaining Relationships Through Communication and is co-author of the forthcoming Sage book Applying Communication Research for Problem-Solving: A Practical Introduction.

Elaine D. Zelley (MA, PhD, The Pennsylvania State University; BA, Ursinus College) is an associate professor of communication at La Salle University in Philadelphia. She teaches communication theory, interpersonal communication, group communication, and communication ethics. Elaine’s research also focuses broadly on the communication of relationship maintenance. She is particularly interested in women’s friendships and the messages used to sustain such relationships. She has published in Communication Yearbook and has also coauthored several book chapters dealing with the topics of relationship maintenance and friendship.