Christopher Leland, PhD
Professor, Department of Communication Studies
Video Introduction
Before coming to APU, Christopher Leland, PhD, taught, worked in academic affairs, and founded the forensics program at Colorado Christian University. Prior to that, he served as vice president of college student ministries for Focus on the Family and president of the Focus Leadership Institute. His awarded teaching has been in a variety of communication topics, from persuasion/argumentation to political communication. He has taught courses in Christian worldview and faith integration. Leland also has significant professional communication experience, including serving as a speechwriter for the National Governors’ Association and working as a consultant to local, regional, and national political campaigns. As an organizational seminar leader, Leland makes presentations for corporations on various topics that include team building through communication, speaking for success, and communicating the corporate image. Corporate clients have included Johnson and Johnson, Hershey Chocolate, Wal-Mart Incorporated, Pizza Hut Incorporated, and state and local government agencies. More recently, Leland has been asked to speak about comparative worldview issues as they relate to leadership. Leland has published in a variety of areas, including articles on First Amendment issues, media impacts on society, campaign advertising, political speeches, and how Christians can best address the concerns of a postmodern culture. Colleges and universities, as well as churches, have called upon his speaking talents.
Education
- PhD, Political Communication, University of Oklahoma
- MA, Rhetoric, University of Arkansas
- BA, Politics/Government and Communication, Ripon College
Academic Area
- Communication
- School of Visual and Performing Arts (College of the Arts)
Expertise
- Public Affairs Communication in Organizations
- Comparative Worldviews
- Family, Church and Cultural Communication
- Political Campaign Communication
- Media Literacy
Courses Taught
- COMM 300 – Research
- COMM 301 – Communication Research
- COMM 302 – Rhetorical Theory
- COMM 335 - Leadership Communication
- COMM 340 - Argumentation and Advocacy
- COMM 440 - Persuasion
- COMM 495 - Political Communication