Lead Presenters/Facilitators: Brandon Knight, Assistant Professor of Speech Communication, William Carey University; Elaine V. Fung, Regent University
Additional Presenters: David Dockery, Texas A&M; Candace Saunders-Grewe, Regent University; Ines Petrovic García, Regent University; David Enns, Liberty University
Date/Time: Monday, June 30, 2025 | 11:30 am – 3:00 pm EDT
Description: In this workshop, Brandon and Elaine will discuss the importance of community and how CCSN is helping to meet this need for community, then communication graduate students will share stories on how they integrate Christian faith into their student life, and a round table discussion with undergraduate and graduate students. The graduate student stories’ topics include navigating coursework in a secular university as a Christian graduate student, servant co-leaders of a qualifying exam study group, faith in scholarship and academic publishing from the editor’s perspective, and integrating faith and authenticity into academic communication. Participants will be encouraged and equipped with practical ways to connect their faith and work as communication students.
Brandon Knight (PhD, University of Southern Mississippi) is Assistant Professor of Speech Communication and Director of Forensics at William Carey University. Brandon also earned an MDiv with an emphasis in Biblical Studies from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Prior to teaching in the Academy, Brandon served as a youth pastor for five years at two locations in the local Hub City area and, more recently, served as an interim at Leaf River Baptist Church in Collins, Mississippi. Brandon’s research is featured in the Journal of Communication and Religion, Management Communication Quarterly, the Journal of Christian Teaching Practice (in Communication Studies), the Interdisciplinary Journal of Research on Religion, and, most recently, the Journal of the Evangelical Homiletics Society. Connect with Brandon here.
Elaine V. Fung (ABD, Regent University), is working to complete her dissertation at Regent University. Her research interests include organizational and interpersonal communication. Elaine is also a Graduate Fellow with the CCSN. Elaine coordinates our summer workshops and conferences in communication, and supports our social media and content creation outreaches. Connect with Elaine here.
Ines Petrovic Garcia is an Assistant Professor of Communication Studies and the Honors Program Director at Volunteer State College in Nashville, TN. She also serves as a journal editor for Artifact Analysis. Ines holds a BA in Communication Studies and an MA in Lifespan and Digital Communication from Old Dominion University and is currently pursuing a PhD in Communication Studies at Regent University. Her research explores leadership, interpersonal and intercultural communication, and the intersections of pop culture and communication. Connect with Ines here.
David Dockery (Texas A & M University) is a doctoral student active in the areas of Religious Communication and Game Studies. He is interested in how digital games enable players to explore ideas of the sacred. These can include exploration of sacred spaces, participation in narratives of the sacred, and mythologies embedded in the world of the game. Some of his favorite games to play and analyze are Elden Ring, Minecraft, Civilizations VI, Battlefield, and Total War. He has previously done research in the field of rhetorical history, with a special interest in the rhetoric of the Founding Generation. His M.A. thesis was on interpretation of the Declaration of Independence as a way of arbitrating public moral controversies. Most of all, he welcomes a good conversation. David received his B.S. in Communication from Tennessee Tech University. He went on to receive an M.A. in Communication from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Afterward, he was excited to accept an opportunity to study in the Texas A&M doctoral program. Learn more about David here.
David Kenneth Enns, PhD candidate at Liberty University, is a pastor at GateWay Bible Church, Santa Cruz, CA, and scholar specializing in communication, digital engagement, and religious rhetoric. His research explores how religious worldviews interpret Christianese, the slang and jargon unique to Christian culture. He holds an MA in Christian Ministry and dual BM degrees in Theory/Composition and Music Management. With a background spanning entertainment, media, and theology, David brings a distinct perspective to communication, storytelling, and cultural engagement. He is passionate about bridging gaps in religious rhetoric and its impact on faith communication in digital and public spaces. Connect with David here.
Registration Fee: $45.00