Celeste Lacroix brings a great deal of energy and expertise to the department. She came to the College of Charleston as a Visiting Assistant Professor in Fall 1998, and teaches a number of offerings within the department. She teaches Intercultural Communication (COMM 221), Small Group Communication (COMM 222), Public Speaking (COMM 104), Gender and Communication (COMM 380) and Media Criticism (COMM 383), among others.
Dr. Lacroix received her Ph.D. in Rhetorical Studies/Media Criticism from Ohio University (receiving several honors, including the Rhetorical Scholar Award) in 1999, after receiving her master's in Communication/Performance Studies from Eastern Michigan University in 1987 and her bachelor's in Speech from Emerson College in 1985. She was involved in many high-level facets of communication in the 1990s ranging from directing forensics programs to assisting medical school faculty to writing grant proposals for state boards of education.
Her research interests include race and ethnicity in popular culture. She has authored a number of national and regional conference papers, and a recent work entitled "Wealth, power and identity in (Native) America," received a "Top Four" citation at the prestigious National Communication Association gathering in Seattle in November 2000. She has also authored a number of other "top papers" within the last four years, while serving on several distinguished panels as well. Each spring since 2001, she has taught Intercultural Communication to C of C students in Trujillo, Spain as part of the College's Study Abroad program.
Dr. Lacroix has also amassed a sterling record of service in a short time, having been both Chair and Program Planner for the Voices of Diversity Interest Group for the Eastern Communication Association. She is serving on the department’s Curriculum Committee, and is on the College’s Faculty Welfare Committee. Dr. Lacroix has chaired the Corporate and Organizational Communication Search Committee for new faculty, serves on the Communication Studies Committee, and is a member of the department's Library Committee as well. She is also faculty adviser for the Alliance for Planet Earth at the College of Charleston.
