Mary Banwart, associate professor of communication studies at the University of Kansas, will be featured speaker at Southwestern College’s annual opening convocation Friday, Aug. 26, at 11 a.m., in the Richardson Performing Arts Center.  There is no admission charge and the public is invited to attend.

The opening convocation will wrap up the festivities for Builder Fest 2016 and officially start the academic year. It will also feature the introduction of new faculty, recognition of students included on the Dean’s Honor Roll for the spring 2016 semester, and announcement of the Scholar of the College.

Following the college’s 2016-17 academic year theme of “Knowledge,” Banwart will speak about the opportunities that knowledge gives to create change in powerful and positive ways.

"I am looking forward to Dr. Banwart’s visit to SC and her speech addressing the topic of Knowledge,” says Tracy Frederick, interim provost at Southwestern College.  “She will reflect on the privileges and awesome responsibility given to those of us who are afforded great academic opportunities as our students here at Southwestern have been. She is an engaging teacher, and an outstanding scholar in her field. But more importantly, she is a person who is mindful of those who are without opportunities and voice.” 

Banwart earned her Ph. D. in communication from the University of Oklahoma, her master’s in speech communication from Western Kentucky University, and her bachelor’s degree in communication studies from the University of Kansas.

Along with being an associate professor of communication studies at the University of Kansas, she is also the program and academic director for the Kansas Women’s Leadership Institute. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in leadership and communication as well as political communication. Her primary research focuses on political campaign communication and the influence of gender in political campaigns, with specific attention directed toward political advertising, campaign web sites, and mixed-gender debates. She also researches the effects of leadership development programs on empowerment.

Banwart has earned numerous honors and awards including the KU Women of Distinction award, Carrie Chapman Catt prize for research on women in politics, and the Inspire Integrity Award given by the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.