OUZ's Shirvani recognized by Ohio Communication Association

Sheida Shirvani, a professor of communication at Ohio University, is named Ohio's Distinguished Service Award recipient for 2007 by the Ohio Communication Association (OCA). The Ohio Communication Association is a professional organization of communications teachers, professors, and scholars in high schools and universities/colleges throughout the State of Ohio. The organization is affiliated with the National Communication Association.

Shirvani was recently named one of two Ohio University regional campus outstanding professors, an award that recognizes faculty members at Ohio University's five regional campuses who have demonstrated excellence in teaching, scholarship and service.

She has taught courses ranging from Fundamentals of Human Communication to Gender and Family Communication in her 20 years with the Zanesville Campus. Known for innovative teaching methods, she is credited with introducing analyses of videotaped speeches by well-known personalities, a technique that since has become a trend in communication classes around the country. Shirvani has served on and chaired several campus and university committees, including OU-Z's Faculty Council.

Shirvani, of Columbus, founded the Zanesville chapter of Omicron Alpha, an honor society for communications professionals, in 1997. The Ohio Communication Association recognized the chapter in 2006 with its Distinguished Student Organization award.

She is dedicated to her research, which focuses on gender, culture and technology. Since 1999, she has published five times in peer-reviewed journals and has two articles set for publication this fall. She has delivered 35 professional presentations, many of which focus on research in intercultural, cross-cultural and gender communication.

In addition to her teaching and scholarship, Shirvani is available for speaking engagements on a variety of topics including Cross Cultural Difference and Diversity in the Workplace, Women in the Middle East, and Conflict Management/Resolution. To find out more contact her at Shirvani@ohio.edu or via phone at 740-588-1499.