New Town, New Faces, Same Passion for Teaching

The Communication Studies Department Welcomes Lauren Kolodziejski 

Pulling into her garage, Dr. Lauren Kolodziejski thought of all the outdoor activities she needed to cross off of her to-do list before the rain came. Go to the beach, go on a hike, and go explore the town of San Luis Obispo; her first month in the area, and she had so much to do before the winter weather. As she continued down her list, it hit her. She was no longer in Seattle; the impending nine month stretch of rain was not around the corner. She smiled, blissfully aware that her new career as a communication studies professor at Cal Poly had come with the added perk of nearly perfect weather year-round.

Dr. Lauren Kolodziejski As she recognized how much time she had to fulfill her San Luis Obispo bucket list, Kolodziejski also realized how incredibly comfortable she had become in her new position. She was so comfortable, she forgot she was no longer in Seattle.

Kolodziejski began her career at Cal Poly in the fall quarter of 2014, teaching Persuasion, Rhetorical Criticism, and Public Speaking. With a research focus in the rhetoric of science, she plans to bring her passions to the classroom. Whatever their future endeavors may be, students are and always will be consumers. By adding a rhetoric of science unit to her Rhetorical Theory section in the winter, she hopes to bring to light the relevance and impact of science and politics on students as citizens and consumers, as well as the importance of thinking critically about this type of discourse.

Kolodziejski’s research has found that people often view scientific research as completely objective and infallible. In reality, every study includes some limitations, and findings from a scientific study do not always translate to the world outside the laboratory. Additionally, appeals to science are often used to promote particular political positions. Kolodziejski wants her students to think critically about the ways that science operates as another persuasive appeal in public discourse. Reading against the grain is one way she encourages her students to think critically. When reading against the grain, students form counterarguments and ask questions of the messages they encounter. By encouraging her students to read against the grain, she aims to empower her students to be more informed consumers and citizens.

Communication studies students are prepared to enter the world engaged, active and knowledgeable. With the skills learned from department curriculum, students are equipped with the tools needed to truly make a difference. Whether it be choosing the proper medication, voting for the right candidate, or navigating the latest technological advancement, COMS students are positioned to be expert consumers and empowered citizens.

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