Kristen McCauliff

Notable work and positions

Ball State University — Dean, College of Communication, Information, and Media (2025– ); Professor, Department of Communication Studies
Former Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs and Professional Development

Biography

Kristen L. McCauliff is dean of the College of Communication, Information, and Media (CCIM) at Ball State University, appointed to the permanent role in March 2025 after serving as interim dean since July 2024. She is also a professor in the Department of Communication Studies, where she has taught courses in rhetorical theory, criticism, feminism, media analysis, and political communication. Before becoming dean, she served as associate provost for faculty affairs and professional development, supporting initiatives including Communities of Practice, High Impact Teaching Practices, and the New Faculty Academy. She earned her doctorate at the University of Georgia and received Ball State's Outstanding Teacher Award in 2015. Her research has appeared in journals including Communication Studies, Women & Language, Rhetoric Society Quarterly, and the Journal of Faculty Development, and she co-authored the 2017 book Listening to Women on the Right: Communication Strategies of Today's Female Republican Politicians (McFarland Press).