Founding Director, Indiana Center for Intercultural Communication at IU Indianapolis
An expert in intercultural communication and linguistics research, Ulla Connor, Ph.D. has defined her field of study. She pioneered the sub-field of 'contrastive rhetoric,' in the 1990s, and her 1996 book, Contrastive Rhetoric, is considered a classic in the field. Connor has received over 26 grants to conduct her research throughout her professional career and serves on the editorial board of numerous journals.
Connor joined the faculty of the IU Indianapolis Department of English in 1984, and became a full professor in 1993. In 2003, she became the first Barbara E. and Karl R. Zimmer Chair in Intercultural Communication. Connor has been an active member of IU Indianapolis's faculty, serving on numerous committees including the campus Sex Equity committee in the early 1990s and many Women's Studies committees. She has served as an adjunct professor of Women's Studies since 1985, and an adjunct professor of Philanthropic Studies since 1998. From 1985 to 1995 and 1997 to 1998, she directed the School of Liberal Arts' English Second Language Program.
In 1997, Connor began a new project at IU Indianapolis. In collaboration with other Liberal Arts faculty, the new Indiana Center for Intercultural Communication was created and Connor became its first director. The center opened in 1998 with a purpose to conduct language research and training specifically geared towards helping academics and professionals communicate more effectively in intercultural situations.
Connor has received numerous awards including the Glen W. Irwin Experience Excellence Award (IU Indianapolis, 1992), the PEAR Award (IU Indianapolis, 2003), and an Outstanding Distinguished Resident Faculty Award, School of Liberal Arts (IU Indianapolis, 2007). She was elected a "Foreign" member of the Finnish Society of Sciences and Letters in 2000.
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