Joanne R Gilbert, Ph.D.

Professor of Communication
Joined Alma College Faculty in 1994
SAC 328
(989) 463-7054
Office Hours: MW 10:30-12:00, 1:30-2:30 and by appointment
Joanne Gilbert is Professor of Communication at Alma College where she teaches courses in Interpersonal Communication, Intercultural Communication, Performance, Humor, and many other areas of the field. She is deeply committed to service learning and often includes student-community interaction in her classes.
Dr. Gilbert’s book, Performing Marginality: Humor, Gender, and Cultural Critique was published by Wayne State University Press in 2004, and has been featured on WCMU Public Television, WGVU Public Radio, KZSC Public Radio, an in The Chronicle of Higher Education and invited presentations at colleges and universities around the country. Her scholarly work on gender and performance-- focusing on the relationship between humor and power, autobiographical and cultural performance, advocacy, and the discourse of marginalized groups-- has appeared in journals and edited volumes such as Text and Performance Quarterly, Modern Rhetorical Criticism, and others.
Dr. Gilbert’s own performance background includes: acting, directing, and performing professional stand-up comedy. Additionally, she is a Communication Consultant to groups and individuals nationwide, providing training in presentational and interpersonal communication skills. She is the recipient of the 2000 Michigan Campus Compact Faculty Staff Community Service-Learning Award, the 2003 Alma College Posey Award for Faculty Excellence, the 2007 Omicron Delta Kappa Faculty Excellence Award, and the 2009 Athena Award (given by the Gratiot Area Chamber of Commerce).
Education
- Ph.D., Communication, The University of Texas at Austin (1994)
- M.A., Speech Communication, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1986)
- B.A., English, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1984)
Research Interests
Advocacy, humor, autobiographical and cultural performance, and the discourse of marginalized groups
Recent Courses Taught
- Performing Advocacy. FYS 013.
- Interpersonal Communication. COM 301.
- Human Communication: Messages and Meaning. COM 101.
- Performing Advocacy. COM 280E.
- Seminar in Communication Theory. COM 450.
- Intercultural Communication. COM 220.
- Humor, Culture and Communication. COM 280E.
- Seminar in Communication Inquiry. COM 350.
Directed Student Presentations and Achievements
- Why Are You Telling Me This? Conflict Avoidance and Relational Satisfaction
- Give Till it Helps: Rhetorical Strategies for Online Fundraising in Nonprofit Health Organizations
- Gender, Communication and Social Work: An Ethnographic Analysis of Social Helpers' Communication Strategies
- A Wink and a Smile: Gender Differences in Nonverbal Flirtation Communication
- Why I Don't Like to Talk: Stuttering as an Interpersonal Disorder
- "Not Such a Long Way Baby": The Rhetorical Construction of Women's Identities in American Print Advertising From 1980-2005
- See More...
Selected Book Publications
- Joanne R Gilbert, Ph.D.. "Up From the Ashes: Michigan Holocaust Survivors Share Their Stories.". Smith and Kraus.
- Joanne R Gilbert. Performing Marginality: Humor, Gender, and Cultural Critique. Wayne State University Press. May 2004.
Selected Articles
- Joanne R Gilbert. "Why I Feel Guilty All The Time: Performing Academic Motherhood." Women’s Studies in Communication. 2008. 31 (2), 203-208
Selected Reviews
- Joanne R Gilbert, Ph.D.. Review of Just the Funny Bits, by Terry Galloway. Liminalities: A Journal of Performance Studies. 2:3, 1-4. November 2006.
Selected Creative Works
- Compiled and directed by Joanne Gilbert.  "Up From the Ashes: Michigan Holocaust Survivors Share Their Stories." Alma College. May 24, 2006.
- Adapted and Directed by Joanne Gilbert.  ""You Can't Always Get What You Want: An Evening of Chamber Theatre"." Alma College. February 2005.
- Directed by Joanne Gilbert.  "The Vagina Monologues." Alma College.
Recent Presentations
- Joanne Gilbert.  "Effective Presentation Skills or How Not to Embarrass Yourself." The Central States Regional Alliance for Community Media Fall 2008 Conference. Mt. Pleasant, MI.
- Joanne R Gilbert.  "How I got From There to Here." United Methodist Women Central District West Michigan Conference. Mt. Pleasant, MI. April.
- Joanne R Gilbert.  "A Jew at the crossroads: Navigating Intersections On and Off Campus." National Communication Association. Chicago, IL. November.
- With Kerry Strayer.  "Connecting with the community: Creating transformative service learning in the communication classroom." National Communication Association. San Antonio.
- "Ann Richards’ 1988 DNC keynote address." National Communication Association. San Antonio.
- Joanne Gilbert.  "If it bleeds, it leads.." Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Conference. Alma, MI.
- See More...
Awards, Honors, Recognitions
- 2008 Finalist, Philo Award for Excellence in Regional Cable Programming for “The Emperor’s New Clothes”
- 2008 Finalist, Philo Award for Excellence in Regional Cable Programming for "Up From the Ashes"
- 2007 Omicron Delta Kappa Faculty Excellence Award
Service to the College
- Co-Director, Women's Studies Program
- Member, Strategy and Planning Committee
- Service Learing Task Force
- Co-Director, Women's Studies Program
- Chair of Communication Department
- Chair of Humanities Division
- See More...
Service to the Community
- Board of Directors, Women’s Resource Center of MidMichigan
- Alma Team Leader, Gratiot Campaign for Change
- The Holocaust: Language and legacy
- Directed and coordinated children's theater for Gratiot Co. Players
- How I got from there to here. Keynote address given to the Alma
- Campaign Coordinator and Precinct Captain, Michigan Coordinated Campaign
- See More...
Service to the Profession
- Associate Editor (Peer Review) for Text and Performance Quarterly , 2000-2004.
- Editorial Board Member (Peer Review) for Women’s Studies in Communication
- Chair, Performance Studies Division
- External reviewer for tenure/promotion decision at Oakland University
- Reviewer for Humor and Gender; Gender and Humor
- Reviewer (endorsement solicited) for Rebels Wit Attitude
- See More...

