SWOSU Hosts Annual Oklahoma Speech Theatre Communication Association Conference

Dr. Matthew Dorr, left, is pictured with Dr. Sasha Hanrahan from Oklahoma State University during the 2026 OSTCA conference. Dorr assumed the association's presidency during the conference luncheon.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) hosted the 2026 annual conference of the Oklahoma Speech Theatre Communication Association (OSTCA) on Saturday, Sept. 12. About 60 faculty members, researchers, students and professionals from 12 colleges and universities came to Weatherford for the event. SWOSU students and faculty took an active role throughout the day as presenters, hosts and association leaders.

This year's conference centered on the theme "Routes and Roots: Honoring Oklahoma's Voices, Mapping Future Pathways." Participants shared research, teaching ideas and creative work related to communication, theatre, forensics and mass communication. Ten Oklahoma institutions were represented, along with Eastern New Mexico University and Liberty University.

Dr. Lisa Boyles joined student presenters Ela Dougherty, Branigyn McAdoo, Sarah McDonald and Lillian Maxey at the 2026 OSTCA conference. They were among seven SWOSU students who presented their work.

The conference gave SWOSU students an opportunity to share their work in a professional setting alongside faculty and professionals from other institutions. Presenters included Lillian Maxey, Sarah McDonald, Ela Dougherty, Branigyn McAdoo, Lucas Punneo, Joi Chappel and Lea Bidault. Their projects addressed political communication on social media, women in entertainment media, professional blogging, crisis communication, organizational communication and student journalism.

SWOSU faculty also contributed research papers, workshops and presentations. Dr. Patrick Julian led a workshop about keeping Shakespeare relevant for younger audiences, and Dr. Nolan Meditz from the Department of Language & Literature presented a workshop on spoken word poetry. Jessica Salmans Meditz and Angela Keeler Reeves led a workshop on marketing theatrical productions. Dr. Lisa Boyles shared research about public speaking and equality in teaching formats. Together, the faculty and student presentations gave colleagues from other universities a closer look at the work taking place within SWOSU's Creative Media & Visual Arts and Language & Literature programs.

Several SWOSU faculty members also hold OSTCA leadership positions. Dr. Matthew Dorr served as president-elect and conference host before assuming the organization's presidency during the luncheon. Julian served as head of the Theatre Division during the past year, and Steven Doughty serves as head of the Multimedia Division. Salmans Meditz serves as OSTCA's social media coordinator and communication coordinator. In addition to these roles, she presented a full organizational rebrand proposal that OSTCA members approved during the conference.

OSTCA also honored one SWOSU student and two faculty members during the conference. McAdoo received the Top Student Paper award. Doughty was named Young Theatre Professor of the Year, and Julian received the Ruth Arrington Theatre Professor of the Year award. The Ruth Arrington award has now gone to a SWOSU faculty member two years in a row, following Salmans Meditz's recognition last year.

SWOSU student Branigyn McAdoo received OSTCA's Top Student Paper award during the 2026 annual conference.

Steven Doughty received OSTCA's Young Theatre Professor of the Year award during the conference.

Dr. Patrick Julian received OSTCA's Ruth Arrington Theatre Professor of the Year award. He is the second consecutive SWOSU faculty member to receive the statewide honor.

Conference sessions took place in the General Thomas P. Stafford Center, followed by a luncheon in the Memorial Student Center. Support for the event came from SWOSU Food Services, Campus Police, Information Technology Services, Stafford Center staff, Creative Media & Visual Arts faculty and The Southwestern. Their contributions helped make the full day of presentations, workshops and professional discussions possible.

The Oklahoma Speech Theatre Communication Association brings together college and university faculty from Oklahoma and the surrounding region. Its annual conference allows members to share research and practical ideas for the classroom. The organization also publishes the Oklahoma Communication Journal and addresses issues affecting communication education.

For more information about SWOSU's Department of Creative Media & Visual Arts, visit swosu.edu/academics/creative-media-and-visual-arts.