A University of Arkansas at Little Rock professor will discuss how to promote positive relationships in stepfamilies during the next Leadership Lecture Series on Nov. 16.

Dr. Bailey Oliver, assistant professor in the Department of Applied Communication, will give her talk, “From Bonus Moms to Half Siblings: Best Practices to Promote Positive and Resilient Stepfamily Relationships,” at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16.

“This talk will focus on the practices that best promote successful stepfamily relationships, including tips for new stepparents, biological parents, step siblings, and half siblings alike,” Oliver said. “This talk will also focus on how stepfamilies can work collectively as a whole system to improve familial relationships.”

Oliver holds a master’s degree in communication studies from the University of Alabama and a Ph.D. in interpersonal communication from Arizona State University. Her research focuses on communication practices and relational development in post-divorced and blended families.

The next Leadership Lecture Series, which is sponsored by the UA Little Rock Department of Applied Communication, will feature Myleea Hill, professor of strategic communication at Arkansas State University, and UA Little Rock alum Marceline Hayes, chair of the Department of Communication Studies at Arkansas State University. Their talk, “The Awareness Myth: From Awareness to Commitment in Public Health Campaigns,” will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 22, 2021.

The lecture is free and open to the public. Those interested in attending one of the lectures may register at this online form, and a Zoom link will be emailed to you.