Andrew D. Wolvin

Andrew Wolvin (Professor Emeritus, University of Maryland Department of Communication) , along with Annie Rappeport (Ph.D., M. Ed., University of Maryland Department of Communication), has published “Narrative Listening and the Quest for Peace,” in the January, 2023, issue of The Global Listener.  The article is a case study of the New Story Leadership project to bring delegates from Israel and Palestine to Washington each summer to listen to each other’s stories and to meet with members of Congress. In the same issue, Professor Wolvin is featured in an interview on the state of listening education and research in today’s world.

As we face the ravages of COVID-19, climate change, economic  disparities,  and  social  injustice,  the  world needs listening skills more than ever. Listening skills are  one  of  the  core  life  skills  that  are  critical  in  life, work,  and  school.  Listening  skills  enable  children to  access  information,  develop  other  skills,  such as  empathy,  and  critical  thinking,  and  have  better academic performances and lives. Listening skills are one of the most desired and needed in workplaces. In  this  brief,  we  explain  the  importance  of  listening skills  and  listening  processes.  Then,  we  review  how policymakers can help develop listening skills. Lastly, we review how policymakers can measure and assess listening skills. 

As a detailed case study, “Listening Leadership: An Academic Perspective” explores the use of listening-centered leadership strategies by University of Maryland President Darryl Pines and his leadership team to develop the UMCP strategic plan for moving forward in a time of continued challenges. 

Let’s reset to establish a more civil global society. We are poised as listening leaders across fields to help reimagine and recraft a more peaceful and positive global community. The world needs us to help our communities rediscover the beauty and value of listening and learning from each other.

Communicating introduces the basic principles of communication and applies them to interpersonal, group, interviewing, and public speaking contexts.  The book stresses communication competence through boxed material, “Learn by Doing” skill-building activities, thought-provoking questions and self-assessment questionnaires. The new edition features an increased emphasis on electronically-mediated communication and the impact of technology on our daily communication, a significantly updated research base and a reorganization of the public speaking chapters.

Bringing together top listening scholars from a range of disciplines and real world perspectives, Listening and Human Communication in the 21st Century offers a state-of-the-art overview of what we know and think about listening behavior in the 21st century.

• Introduces students to the core issues listening theory and practice

• Includes student friendly features such as editorial introductions to each section and questions for further reflection at the end of each chapter

• Discussion ranges from historical perspectives to present theory, to teaching and performing listening in the classroom, in health care, and in corporate settings