Communication Studies students, faculty present at academic conference

BIRMINGHAM, ALA. - Senior Mackenzie "MJ" Davis and sophomore Maggie Holden were honored for their communication research this weekend at the Southern States Communication Association (SSCA) conference in Birmingham, Alabama. Faculty members Dr. J. Dean Farmer and Brian Bowman also presented at the conference.

SSCA members chose the Communication Studies majors to present their work to faculty and students from across the southern U.S. and beyond. The theme for this year's conference was artificial intelligence in academic settings.

Davis's research focused on public responses to a crime that created headlines nationally in 2025. The paper, titled, Cosplay and Criminality: The Case of Luigi Mangione examines supporter responses in the wake of extensive media coverage. Farmer was second author on the paper, which was presented as a faculty submission at the event.

"Being able to return to SSCA a second time has been a blast," Davis said. "There are few spaces where you can speak about topics and theories with like-minded individuals, so I am glad that I found my people. It was wonderful to discuss my research and stimulate ideas for the future."

Holden's research paper was titled Is AI a better friend than you?: Replacement of Human Relationships with AI Chatbots. She examined the growing practice of using A.I. as a personal companion.

"Having the opportunity to present my research at SSCA was incredible," Holden said. "I was able to receive feedback on future areas of research I could explore and network within the communication industry, including future graduate programs. I am excited to apply everything I have learned to improve my current and future research."

Holden completed the work in Bowman's Media Literacy course.

"The Media Literacy course emphasizes understanding media messages, and Maggie's research idea fit that nicely," Bowman said. "She put in the hard work and created a paper that generated some lively discussions at the conference."

Undergraduate research continues to be an important part of the student experience in the Department of Communication Studies. To prepare for SSCA, both students also presented their work at the annual Wiggins Memorial Library Academic Symposium in March.

Farmer noted, "Mackenzie and Maggie were excellent ambassadors for the Department and Campbell University. Scholars at the conference praised their work, and they were both assumed to be graduate students in multiple situations."

Bowman also presented at the conference. His work, Time and Space for Reflection: Adding Emphasis on Vocation and Calling to the Classroom, described the team effort that led to the introduction and implementation of the Campbell Hallmarks: character, initiative, and calling. He also described the faculty/staff learning cohorts that incorporate the hallmarks into assignments and reflections in Campbell classes.

In addition, Farmer and Bowman both served as chairs for conference sessions.