April Chatham-Carpenter, Ph.D.

Dr. April Chatham-Carpenter is Professor and Chair of the Department of Applied Communication at UA Little Rock. Her work focuses on how communication can strengthen relationships, help people navigate conflict and difference, and contribute to healthier communities. Across her roles as an educator, scholar, facilitator, and civic leader, she is especially interested in listening, civil dialogue, resilience, and the ways communication can help people remain in relationship even amid disagreement. She also serves as UA Little Rock’s Research Integrity Officer.

Website: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EOuamBeRCxTJAmo6y8xy8iRhUuoC4M53vqMXp0TCm5o/edit?usp=sharing

1991 Ph.D. University of Oklahoma (Communication)

• Specialization Areas — Interpersonal and Instructional Communication
• Dissertation Topic — “Home Schooling vs. Public Schooling: What about Relationships in Adolescence?”

1986 M.A. University of Oklahoma (Communication)

1984 B.A. University of Central Arkansas (Speech Communication) – Graduated with Highest Honors

Chatham-Carpenter’s scholarship focuses on conflict management, listening and civil dialogue, interpersonal communication, and the ways communication can foster resilience and connection. Her recent work has explored conversational receptiveness across political differences, civic and community listening, facilitative leadership, courageous citizenship, and communication during organizational crises.

Chatham-Carpenter, A. (2026). Role multiplicity in practice: Practicing courageous citizenship in contested civic spaces. Beyond Intractability: Special issue of Braver Angels’ Civic Scholars Council Courageous Citizenship Papers. https://www.beyondintractability.org/cic_documents/courageous-citizenship/Chatham-Carpenter.html

Slagle, D., Chatham-Carpenter, A., & Sherwin, E. (2026).  Crisis communication and building resilience: Examining strategies for chairs and directors in higher education institutions.  Journal of Public Affairs Education.  https://doi.org/10.1177/15236803261447727

Thompson, C. & Hayes, M. & Chatham-Carpenter, A. (in press). Combining collaboration with making predictions to inspire deep learning.  In E. A. Johnson-Young, A. Y. Goldman, and A. Romero Walker (Eds.), Collaborative Team Based and Experiential Learning: A Path to Student Innovation in Communication.  Peter Lang.

Chatham-Carpenter, A., Heckscher, C., Saltwick, S., & Thomas-Vallens, M. (2025). Intentional facilitative leadership in action: A spotlight on the homelessness-fire safety crisis in Contra Costa County. In L. L. Britt & L-M. Napoli (Eds.), Facilitative leadership: Building capacity for divisive times (pp. 187-196). Waveland Press.

Oliver-Blackburn, B., Chatham-Carpenter, A., & Thompson, C. (2025). Civic community listening: The nexus of storytelling and listening within civic communities.  In J. Fishman, R. Garcia, & L. Rosenberg (Eds.), Community listening: Stories, hauntings, possibilities (pp. 153-173). University Press of Colorado.  https://doi.org/10.37514/PER-B.2025.2531.2.07

Spadaro, A., Doyle, D., & Chatham-Carpenter, A. (2024).  Stepping outside of comfort zones: Transformational learning in online communication courses. Atlantic Journal of Communication, 32(1), 31-48. doi:10.1080/15456870.2023.2224484

Chatham-Carpenter, A., & Malone, M. (2023). “Wait, I can’t do that anymore!”: Pandemic teacher immediacy in college communication classes. Frontiers in Education, 8, section Digital Education. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2023.1271078 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2023.1271078/full?&utm_source=Email_to_authors_&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=T1_11.5e1_author&utm_campaign=Email_publication&field=&journalName=Frontiers_in_Education&id=1271078

Oliver-Blackburn, B., & Chatham-Carpenter, A. (2023).  “Can we really understand each other?”: Strategies to foster conversational receptiveness in a time of U.S. political polarization. Journal of Applied Communication Research, 51(1), 55-71.. doi: 10.1080/00909882.2022.2093122

Oliver-Blackburn, B., & Chatham-Carpenter, A. (2022). Locating & dispelling inaccurate attributions amongst the political divide: A case study of Braver Angels’ activities.  In A. L. Meluch & H. L. Walter (Eds.), Casing conflict in communication (pp. 19-26). Kendall Hunt.

Slagle, D. R., Chatham-Carpenter, A., Williams, A. M. (2022). A discourse of renewal: Higher education leadership and crisis communication during Black Lives Matter, Public Integrity.  doi: 10.1080/10999922.2022.2068320

Slagle, D., McIntyre, J. J., Chatham-Carpenter, A., & Reed, H. (2021). The perfect storm in the midst of a pandemic: The use of information within an institution’s multiple crises. Online Information Review, 45(4), 656-671.

Thompson, C., & Chatham-Carpenter, A. (2020). Building relationships through pedagogy: Interpersonal communication in an honors rhetoric & communication course.  In J. A. Becker & C. S. Parsons (Eds.), Honors Communication: Contextual issues & lessons learned in teaching, advising, and mentoring the undergraduate honors student in communication.  New York: Peter Lang Publishing.

Chatham-Carpenter, A., & Spadaro, A. (2019).  Growing pains: Faculty challenges and triumphs in moving a communication program online.  Journal of Educators Online, 16(2).

Driskill, G., Chatham-Carpenter, A., & McIntyre, K. (2019). The power of a mission: Transformations of a department culture through social constructionist principles. Innovative Higher Education, 44(1), 69-83.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10755-018-9449-8

Chatham-Carpenter, A. (2017).  The future online: Instructional communication scholars taking the lead.  Communication Education, 66 (4), 492-494.

Heistad, D., Chatham-Carpenter, A., Moser, K., & Woods, K. (2017). Educating with purpose: An integrated communication model for first-year student success.  In T. Skipper (Ed.), What makes the first-year seminar high impact:  An exploration of effective educational practices.  Columbia, SC:  National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience & Students in Transition.

Chatham-Carpenter, A. (2017a). Survey: Follow-up questions.  In M. Allen (Ed.), The SAGE encyclopedia of communication research methods (pp. 1708-1710).  Thousand Oaks, CA:  SAGE Publications.

Chatham-Carpenter, A. (2017b). Survey: Multiple-choice questions.  In M. Allen (Ed.), The SAGE encyclopedia of communication research methods (pp. 1711-1713).  Thousand Oaks, CA:  SAGE Publications.

Chang, C., Chen, Z. J., & Chatham-Carpenter, A. (2016). Constructing and negotiating identity in “birth culture”: An intercultural communication approach.  China Media Research, 12 (1), 3-13.

Chatham-Carpenter, A., & Heistad, D. (2014-2015).  Cornerstone:  An experiment in interdisciplinarity and community.  UNIversitas, 10.  Retrieved from https://universitas.uni.edu/2014-2015

Chatham-Carpenter, A., Heistad, D., Licari, M., Moser, K., & Woods, K. (2014). Creating classroom communities: Faculty & peer mentor collaboration in first-year only classes. In S. Whalen (Ed.), Proceedings of the 10th National Symposium on Student Retention, Louisville, Kentucky (pp. 73-84). Norman, OK:  The University of Oklahoma. [authors listed alphabetically]
Chatham-Carpenter, A. (2012). “It was like this, I think”: Constructing a birth parent narrative for Chinese adopted children. Adoption Quarterly, 15 (3), 157-184.
Palczewski, C., Chatham-Carpenter, A., DeFrancisco, V., Hall, T., & Martin, C. (2011). Introduction to communication research methods: Understanding, knowledge construction in communication studies using quantitative, qualitative and rhetorical/critical approaches to research.  Research methods textbook accessed online from a secure site.  [author names in alphabetical order, except for first author]
Chatham-Carpenter, A. (2010). “Do thyself no harm”: Protecting ourselves as autoethnographers. Journal of Research Practice, 6(1), Article M1. Retrieved from https://jrp.icaap.org/index.php/jrp/article/view/213/183

Chatham-Carpenter, A., Seawel, L., & Raschig, J. (2009-2010). Avoiding the pitfalls: Current practices and recommendations for ePortfolios in higher education. Journal of Educational Technology Systems, 38 (4), 437-456.

Chatham-Carpenter, A. (2009). When the personal becomes professional: Surveillances of a professor’s eating disorder personae. Iowa Journal of Communication, 41 (1), 125-147.

DeFrancisco, V. P., Kuderer, J., & Chatham-Carpenter, A. (2007). Autoethnography and women’s self-esteem: Learning through a “living” method. Feminism & Psychology, 17(2), 237-243.

Chatham-Carpenter, A. (2006a). Internal self-esteem: God as symbolic interactionism’s “significant other”? The Journal of Communication and Religion, 29 (1), 103-126.

Chatham-Carpenter, A. (2006b). [Review of Moral Courage.] Universitas, 2 (2), accessed at https://www.uni.edu/universitas/.

Chatham-Carpenter, A. (2005). Creating and implementing virtual lectures. In L. J. Goodnight & S. P. Wallace (Eds.), The Basic Communication Course online (pp. 69-78). Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt.

DeFrancisco, V., & Chatham-Carpenter, A. (2000). Self in community: African American women’s views of self-esteem.  The Howard Journal of Communications, 11 (2), 73-92.

Chatham-Carpenter, A. (2000). [Review of Resisting gender: Twenty-five years of feminist psychology.] Contemporary Psychology APA Review of Books, 45 (3), 272-274.

Chatham-Carpenter, A., & DeFrancisco, V. (1998). Women construct self-esteem in their own terms:  A feminist qualitative study.  Feminism & Psychology, 8 (4), 467-489.

Chatham-Carpenter, A., & DeFrancisco, V. (1997). Pulling yourself up again: Women’s choices and strategies for recovering and maintaining self-esteem.  Western Journal of Communication, 61 (2), 164-187.

DeFrancisco, V., Chatham-Carpenter, A., & Cowlagi, G. (1995, June). What’s school got to do with it? Adult women’s reflections and suggestions on the role of education in developing self-esteem. In Proceedings of the AAUW Pre-Convention Symposium, “Achieving Gender Equity in the Classroom and on the Campus: The Next Steps” (pp. 57-62). Washington, D.C.: American Association of University Women.

Chatham-Carpenter, A. (1995a). [Review of Discourse and lifespan identity.] Language in Society, 24 (2), 282-285.

Chatham-Carpenter, A. (1995b). Self-esteem: A study by women — about women — for everyone. Exploring what works and what doesn’t. Waterloo/Cedar Falls Magazine, March/April, 30-31.

Chatham-Carpenter, A. (1992). Home vs. public schoolers’ relationships: Differences in social networks. Cedar Falls, IA: University of Northern Iowa, Dept. of Communication Studies. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 361 784)

Chatham-Carpenter, A. (1994). Home vs. public schoolers: Differing social opportunities. Home School Researcher, 10 (1), 15-24.

Downs, V. C., Smith, J., Chatham, A., & Boyle, A. (1986). Elderly perceptions of a competent communicator. Communication Research Reports, 3, 120-124.

• Recipient, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Faculty Excellence Public Service Award (2026)
• Recipient, “We HEART Our Faculty” Student Government Faculty Appreciation Award, University of Arkansas at Little Rock (2023)
• Recipient, Faculty Mentor Award, College of Social Sciences & Communication, University of Arkansas at Little Rock (2020)
• Recipient, Outstanding Department Chair/Director for the College of Social Sciences & Communication, University of Arkansas at Little Rock (2019)
• Recipient, University of Northern Iowa Above and Beyond Award for Excellence in Advising/Service to Students (2014)
• Recipient, Liberal Arts Core Excellence in Teaching Award, University of Northern Iowa (2013)
• Recipient, Helping Students Succeed commendation, from the University of Northern Iowa’s Division of Student Affairs (2013)
• Recipient, Regents Award for Faculty Excellence, University of Northern Iowa (2011)
• Co-Recipient, CHFA Faculty Excellence Award, University of Northern Iowa (2010)

Responsible for developing, teaching, and assessing the following courses:

• Introduction to Communication Research (for undergraduate majors)
• Seminar in Applied Communication Studies (for 2nd year graduate students)
• Applied Communication Research (for 1st year graduate students)
• Conflict Analysis & Intervention (for graduate-level Conflict Management certificate)
• Listening & Civil Dialogue (for undergraduate & graduate students)
• Team & Group Communication (for undergraduate students)
• Senior Capstone
• Senior Portfolio
• Applied Communication at Work & Internship Course

• Civic Hub Accelerator Training, Better Together America (2026)
• Civility Leadership Institute, Renew America Together (2024-2025)
• Certified as a trainer for SERVE: A Framework for Civility (2024)
• CyberLearn Arkansas HyFlex Course Design (2023)
• NSF-OIG Research Integrity Administrator Workshop (2023)
• US Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Research Integrity, Research Integrity Officer boot camp (2022)
• Essential Partners Faculty Training (2021)
• The Humanity of Inclusive Practices: Teaching & Learning Academy Mini-Course sponsored by the Gardner Institute (2020)

• Braver Angels Civic Scholars Council
• National Communication Association
• Southern States Communication Association
• Association of Research Integrity Officers

Service listed below represents selected service since 2020 in two categories:  Committee membership/leadership, and guest speaking/facilitating/media work.

Committee Memberships & Leadership Opportunities

• State Coordinator, Arkansas Braver Angels (2026 – present)
• Braver Angels Citizen-Led Renewal team guide (2026 – present)
• Member, Braver Angels Civic Scholars Council (2026 – present)
• Member, IRB, University of Arkansas at Little Rock (2025 – present)
• Interim State Coordinator, New Mexico Braver Angels (2024 – present)
• Member, Association of Research Integrity Officers (2023 – present)
• Committee member, Braver Angels Moderator Training Forum steering team (2022 – present)
• Member, UA Little Rock CHASSE Undergraduate Curriculum Committee (2020 – 2026)
• Committee member, Leadership Action Team focused on the evaluation of teaching, UA Little Rock (2026)
• Committee member, Next Step Offerings Workstream national committee, Braver Angels (2026)
• Chair, CHASSE Undergraduate Curriculum Committee (2023 – 2024, 2025 – 2026)
• Co-Chair, Braver Angels Event Development and Delivery Steering Team (2023 – 2025)
• Scholars’ Council, Braver Angels (2022 – 2025)
• Member, CEO/President Search Committee for Braver Angels (2025)
• Field Team Regional Leader for South Central region, Braver Angels (2021 – 2025)
• Member, National Communication Association Legislative Assembly, Southern States Communication Association representative (2022 – 2025)
• Co-Chair, Braver Angels Strategic Planning Leadership Task Force (2023 – 2024)
• Co-Director, National Field Operations, Braver Angels, focused on Field Communications (2021 – 2023)
• State Co-Coordinator, Arkansas Braver Angels (2021)
• Member, National Braver Angels Evaluation Steering Committee (2020 – 2024)
• Co-Chair, Central Arkansas Braver Angels Alliance (2020)
• Online Moderator Trainer, National Braver Angels organization (2020 – 2021)

Guest Speaking, Facilitating, & Media Work

• Co-Host, Arkansas TV A Braver Arkansas TV show (2026 – present)
• Podcast Co-Host, On the Other Hand Braver Angels Arkansas podcast, https://arkansas.braverangels.org/podcasts/ar-podcasts (2022 – present)
• Facilitator, Conflict Management and/or Difficult Conversations Workshops for multiple community partners, UA Little Rock Leadership Academy (December 2021 – present)
• Facilitator, StrengthsQuest training workshops for Arkansas Public Affairs Consortium (APAC) (January 2022 – present)
• Workshop moderator for 28 Braver Angels local and national workshops, including the following workshops:  Red-Blue workshop, Common Ground workshop, Skills for Bridging the Divide, Depolarizing Within, and Being Red in a Blue Environment (2020 – present)
• Zoom events manager for multiple Braver Angels national workshops (2020 – present)
• Workshop facilitator for UA Little Rock Academic Leadership Academy, Conflict Management (2025 – present)
• Facilitator, UA Little Rock DCSTEM college Generative AI lunch ‘n learn discussion (December, 2025)
• Guest interviewee for Braver Angels Arkansas, Arkansas PBS Arkansas Week two episodes (November, 2025)
• Co-Facilitator, Depolarizing Perspectives for Braver Angels Arkansas, B’Nai Israel (September, 2025)
• Facilitator, Difficult Conversations Workshop for Birchtree Communities (2025)
• Facilitator, Difficult Conversations Workshop for Arkansas Food Bank (2025)
• Co-Teacher, Adult Education core discipleship study on Prayer for St. Andrews Anglican Church (Spring 2025).
• Facilitator, Conflict Management Workshop for Dassault Falcon Jet, UA Little Rock Leadership Academy (2024)
• Facilitator, Difficult Conversations Workshop for City of Little Rock (2024)
• Co-Facilitator, Civil Community Conversations, Braver Angels Arkansas (2023 – 2024).
• Facilitator, Conflict Management and Everyday Communication Workshops for Arkansas Office of the Courts, UA Little Rock Leadership Academy (2022)
• Co-Moderator, Depolarizing Within and Skills for Bridging the Divide Braver Angels workshops, UA Little Rock faculty, staff, and students (Fall 2023).
• Facilitator, Conflict Management series of workshops for UA Little Rock faculty and staff (Summer 2023).
• Facilitator, Managing Difficult Conversations workshop, UA Little Rock Division of Student Affairs and Office of Records & Registration (Spring 2023).
• Facilitator, DEIB training on Depolarizing our Divides, University of Central Arkansas (2022).
• Arkansas Lifequest Class Co-Facilitator on Civil Dialogue in the Public Square (Spring 2021)
• Co-Teacher, Adult Education book study on A Gentle Answer: Our ‘Secret Weapon’ in an age of us against them for St. Andrews Anglican Church (Fall 2020 & Spring 2021).
• Panelist, UA Little Rock Faculty Mentor Workshop (November 2020)
• Guest speaker for multiple presentations to community groups on “With Malice Towards None:  Communication Skills for Bridging the Political Divide” (2020 – 2022)
• Focus group facilitator, Student Mental Health and Wellness Needs, Clinton School of Public Service (March 2020)
• Workshop facilitator, Arkansas 4-H management team, on Using Strengths to Build a Strong Team (March 2020)

• 2021-present Research Integrity Officer, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
• 2015-2019, 2020-present, Department Chair & Professor, Department of Applied Communication, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
• 2019-2020 Interim Director, School of Public Affairs, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
• 2018-2020 Assessment Faculty Fellow, Provost’s Office, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
• 2014-2015 Interim Associate Provost for Academic Affairs and Interim Dean of the Graduate College, University of Northern Iowa
• 2012-2014 Administrative Fellow, Office of the Provost & Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of Northern Iowa
• 2012-2014 Co-Director, First-Year Cornerstone course
• 2011-2015 Professor, Department of Communication Studies, University of Northern Iowa
• 1997-2011 Associate Professor, Department of Communication Studies, University of Northern Iowa
• 2008-2011 Director, Graduate Program, Department of Communication Studies, University of Northern Iowa
• 2010 Assistant to the Acting Department Head, Department of Communication Studies, University of Northern Iowa
• 1991-1997 Assistant Professor, Department of Communication Studies, University of Northern Iowa
• 1993-1995 Coordinator, Communication Program, Department of Communication Studies, University of Northern Iowa
• 1984-1991 Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Communication, University of Oklahoma
• 1988-1989 Assistant Basic Course Coordinator, Principles of Communication course, University of Oklahoma