View
all
Something More About Doc Leland
Career Summary
Dr. Chris Leland is a Senior Fellow for Christian Worldview Studies for the Focus on the Family Institute. We like to call him "Doc." Among other things, Doc guides students in the Truth Lab.
Prior to coming to Focus in the summer of 2001, Doc served as a professor of communication at Huntington College in Indiana. He is also an adjunct faculty member for Indiana Wesleyan University, writing curriculum and teaching online courses in business and communication.
A former faculty member at Wichita State University's Elliott School of Communication, Doc taught both undergraduate and graduate courses in communication and directed a nationally competitive speech and debate team.
Education
- Ph.D. Political Communication, University of Oklahoma (1991)
- M.A. Communication, University of Arkansas (1988)
- B.A. Communication/Politics & Government, Ripon College, Wisconsin (1986)
[Editor's note: I could have earned those degrees — if I wanted to.]
Summary of Publications and Presentations
Doc Leland has published articles on a variety of topics, including First Amendment issues, media impacts on society, campaign advertising, political speeches, examining the role of spiritual character as a political issue, and how Christians can best address the concerns of a postmodern media culture.
Doc's articles have appeared in the Free Speech Yearbook, Social Science Quarterly, and several communication journals and periodicals. Most recently, his work was seen in The Electronic Election: Perspectives on the 1996 Presidential Election, as well as a chapter in a soon to be released study of Campaign 2000.
Doc has presented more than two dozen research papers at professional conferences throughout the U.S. and internationally. In May 2000, he delivered the Forester Lecture at Huntington College, "A Remote Existence: Exploring the Challenges of Christianity in a Postmodern Media Culture." In the last few years, he has addressed several Christian colleges and universities as a chapel and special emphasis speaker.
The Doc also brings a great deal of professional communication experience to the classroom. He has served as a speechwriter for the National Governors' Association, and has worked as a professional political consultant to local, regional and national political campaigns.
As a workshop and seminar leader, Doc makes presentations for major corporations on various topics, including: "Team Building Through Communication," "Speaking for Success," and "Communicating the Corporate Image." Corporate clients have included Johnson and Johnson, Hershey Chocolate, Wal-Mart Inc., Pizza Hut Inc., Lear Jet, and state and local government agencies.
Professional Memberships
Doc has served in leadership positions in the National Communication Association and continues to be an active member. He is also a member of the International Communication Association, Religious Communication Association, and Pi Kappa Delta (communication honor society).
Awards and Recognitions
In 1998, the Doc received the Distinctive Professor of the Year Award at Huntington College. Not too shabby.
Doc's also a family man, having married his lovely wife Becca in 1989. They have four sons — Stephen, Nicolas, Christopher Jr., and Matthew. They just call him "Dad."
