David Palmer

• PhD, Bowling Green State University, Communication, Bowling Green, Ohio
• MA, Ohio University, Communication, Athens, Ohio
• BA, Wheaton College, Communication, Wheaton, Illinois

• Professor, University of Northern Colorado: 2014-Present
• Associate Professor, University of Northern Colorado: 2004-2014
• Assistant Professor, University of Northern Colorado: 1999-2004
• Instructor, University of Northern Colorado: 1997-1999
• Graduate Teaching Associate, Bowling Green State University: 1994-1997
• Instructor: University of Virginia’s College at Wise: 1992-1994
• Graduate Teaching Associate, Ohio University: 1991-1992
• ——————-
• Past Chair, Activism and Social Justice Division, National Communication Association: (incremental roles) 2019-2021

Education Theory and Critical Education, Activism Pedagogy

Books:

Frey, L. R., & Palmer, D. L. (Eds.). (2014). Teaching communication activism: Communication education for social justice. New York, NY: Hampton Press. *Awarded the 2015 Edited Book of the Year Award by the Applied Division of the National Communication Association.

Notable Scholarship:

Palmer, D.L. (2024, November). And Justice For All: Weighing the Costs and Benefits of Ideological Diversity in Communication Activism Education. National Communication Association Conference; New Orleans, LA.

Palmer, D. (2021). Student activist mentor letters as a form of social movement-building in communication activism pedagogy (pp 133-162). In K. Blinne (Ed.) Grading justice: Teacher-activist approaches to assessment. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books.

Palmer, D. L. (2019, February). Navigating the Civic Volunteer—Activist Pluralism in Communication Activism Pedagogy. Western States Communication Association Conference, Seattle, WA.

Palmer, D., Artz, L., McConnell, K., & Russel, V. (2018, November). Current Dilemmas in Communication Activism Pedagogy. Presented at the National Communication Association Convention; Salt Lake City, Utah.

Palmer, D. L. (2017). Exploring how communication is central to social activism. In C. K. Rudick, K. B. Golsan, & K. Cheesewright (Eds.), Teaching from the Heart:  Critical Communication Pedagogy in the Communication Classroom (pp.125-131). San Diego, CA: Cognella.

Frey, L. R. & Palmer, D. L. (2017). Communication activism pedagogy and research: communication education scholarship to promote social justice.  Communication Education 66, 3, 362-367.

Frey, L. R. & Palmer, D. L. (2017). Turning communication activism pedagogy teaching into communication activism pedagogy research.  Communication Education 66, 3, 380-382.

Palmer. D. L. (2016). Advocacy and the perils of group membership. In A. Kurylo (Ed.), Negotiating Group Identity in the Research Process: Are You In or Are You Out? (pp. 169-186). Lanham, MD: Lexington Books.

Palmer, D. L., Del Gandio, J., and Huffman, T. (2016, November). National Communication Association Preconference Workshop: Teaching Communication Activism for Social Justice. Philadelphia, PA. 

Palmer, D. L., & Frey, L. R. (2015). Fostering civic resilience and hope through communication activism education. In G. Beck & T. Socha (Eds.), Communicating Hope and Resilience Across the Lifespan (pp. 235-257). New York, NY: Peter Lang Publishers.

Palmer, D. L. (2014). Communication education as vocational training and the marginalization of activist pedagogies. In L. R. Frey & D. L. Palmer (Eds.), Teaching communication activism: Communication education for social justice (pp. 45–76). New York, NY: Hampton Press.

Frey, L. R., & Palmer, D. L. (2014). Introduction: Teaching communication activism. In L. R. Frey & D. L. Palmer (Eds.), Teaching communication activism: Communication education for social justice (pp. 1–42). New York, NY: Hampton Press.

• 2025 UNC Sears-Helgoth Distinguished Teaching Award
• 2025 UNC Athletic Department Faculty of the Year Award
• 2023-2024 UNC College of Humanities and Social Sciences Award for Excellence in Teaching