Diza Sauers

Biography

Diza Sauers has taught communication in its various practices at the University of Arizona for the past 15 years. Currently, as the Director of the Business Communication program, she oversees the development of both the graduate, undergraduate and executive communication based curriculum.  Diza works as a communication consultant across many industries to help facilitate more effective communication and planning in any enterprise.  Prior to her life in academia, her work experience focused in the film and television industry.

The recipient of over ten awards for teaching, leadership, mentorship, and innovation, Diza teaches taught full-time in the Business Communication Program, where she created a rigorous curriculum for executives and MBA students, and leaders at all levels.  As a Professor of Practice, she assumes responsibility for curricular innovation, programmatic support, and outreach initiatives for the Business Communication program across multiple platforms.  

In addition to her academic work, Diza frequently works with a variety of enterprises to facilitate strategic planning and evaluation of communication strategies.  This includes facilitating strategic planning sessions, professional coaching (team or individual), and training large and small groups for effective structured conversations, small group dynamics, and communication style analysis.  Whether working with a larger venues  or small start-ups, Diza is skilled in facilitating training, development, and organizational conversations that result in vision setting, mission clarification, and communicating change and implementation effectively.

Diza has taught courses in organizational communication, crisis management, public relations, investor relations, virtual team communication strategies, small group communication, and leadership communication.  A special area for focus has been delivering specific modules that emphasize strategic persuasive strategies with a focus on authenticity, trust, and communicator credibility for any level of manager.

Diza holds a terminal degree in writing (MFA) from the University of Arizona and a BA from Bennington College. She received a Dean's Fellowship from the English Department and was twice named an Arizona Commission of the Arts fellow. She has numerous publications in a variety of journals, most recently Business Communication Quarterly.  As a two-time recipient of the Arizona Board of Regent’s LCE (Learner-Centered Education) grants and OEP funding, Diza has developed technologically enhanced and online learning initiatives for a variety of populations. Her work remains focused on putting the most strategic communication tools into the hands of anyone who wishes to become more effective in the work place.

Degrees

• M.F.A. Creative Writing, Fiction
• University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States
• Santos
• B.A. Literature and Languages
• Bennington College, Bennington, Vermont, United States

Awards

• Outstanding Professor
• Evening MBA Program, Eller College of Management, Winter 2016
• Eller College Evening MBA Program, Winter 2014
• 100% Engagement Award
• Eller College of Management, Spring 2016
• Wharton QS Stars Reimagine Education
• Wharton, Fall 2014 (Award Finalist)
• Integrative Leadership Award
• Eller Donor, Spring 2014
• EvMBA Outstanding Professor Award
• Eller MBA, Evening Program, Winter 2013
• Most Outstanding Faculty, MBA Full Time Program, Eller
• Eller College of Management, Spring 2011
• MBA Faculty Leadership Award
• Eller College of Management, Spring 2006
• Entrepreneurship Communication Mentor
• McGuire Entrepreneurship Program, Spring 2004
• Don Wells Mentoring Award
• Eller College of Management, Spring 2003
• University Team Award
• University of Arizona, Spring 2003
• Five Star Faculty
• University of Arizona, Spring 2002 (Award Finalist)
• Outstanding Faculty, Undergraduate Teaching Award
• Eller College of Management, Spring 2002
• Eller College of Management, Undergraduate Teaching, Spring 2002