Margaret J Pitts
- Senior Associate Dean
- Associate Professor, Communication
- Member of the Graduate Faculty
- (520) 621-7815
- Administration, Rm. 302
- Tucson, AZ 85721
- mjpitts@arizona.edu
Biography
Maggie Pitts (PhD, Penn State) is Senior Associate Dean, Academic Affairs, of the Graduate College and Associate Professor of Communication at the University of Arizona. As Associate Dean, Dr. Pitts oversees graduate program development, graduate policies and procedures, graduate admissions, and graduate student academic progress through degree completion. In this role, Dr. Pitts is an advocate for graduate students and graduate education. She is especially interested in the promotion of graduate diversity, integrity, and interdisciplinarity and cultivating opportunities for graduate students to thrive. Prior to serving as Associate Dean, Dr. Pitts was Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Communication where she continues to teach, mentor, and advise doctoral and master’s students. With more than 50 scholarly publications, she has an active line of research in the areas of interpersonal and intercultural communication where she approaches the study of human interactions from a positive social scientific lens. Currently, with the help of her doctoral students, she is building a grounded theoretical model of communication savoring.
Degrees
- Ph.D. Communication
- The Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, United States
- The Role of Communication in Cross-National Adjustment and Identity Transitions among Student Sojourners
- M.A. Communication
- The Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, United States
- Cultural Identity and Patterns of Social Support among United States American Students Abroad
- B.A. Communication
- Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States
- B.A. French
- Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States
Work Experience
- Old Dominion University (2006 - 2011)
- University of California, Santa Barbara (2005 - 2006)
Awards
- Women of Impact
- The University of Arizona Office of Research, Innovation & Impact, Fall 2023
Interests
Research
Positive Social ScienceCommunication and AgingCommunication SavoringInternational SojourningIntercultural IdentityHealth Communication
Teaching
Qualitative Research MethodsInterpersonal CommunicationIntercultural Communication
Courses
2024-25 Courses
-
Research
COMM 900 (Fall 2024)
2023-24 Courses
-
Research
COMM 900 (Spring 2024) -
Special Topics in Humanities
HNRS 195J (Spring 2024) -
Independent Study
COMM 399 (Fall 2023) -
Independent Study
COMM 699 (Fall 2023) -
Research
COMM 900 (Fall 2023) -
Rsrch Methodologies III
COMM 640 (Fall 2023)
2022-23 Courses
-
Dissertation
COMM 920 (Spring 2023) -
Special Topics in Humanities
HNRS 195J (Spring 2023) -
Dissertation
COMM 920 (Fall 2022)
2021-22 Courses
-
Dissertation
COMM 920 (Spring 2022) -
Dissertation
COMM 920 (Fall 2021) -
Independent Study
COMM 699 (Fall 2021)
2020-21 Courses
-
Dissertation
COMM 920 (Spring 2021) -
Research
COMM 900 (Spring 2021) -
Research
COMM 900 (Fall 2020)
2019-20 Courses
-
Dissertation
COMM 920 (Spring 2020) -
Honors Thesis
COMM 498H (Spring 2020) -
Independent Study
COMM 599 (Spring 2020) -
Research
COMM 900 (Spring 2020) -
Thesis
COMM 910 (Spring 2020) -
Dissertation
COMM 920 (Fall 2019) -
Honors Thesis
COMM 498H (Fall 2019) -
Research
COMM 900 (Fall 2019) -
Rsrch Methodologies III
COMM 640 (Fall 2019)
2018-19 Courses
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Communication Theory I
COMM 610 (Spring 2019) -
Dissertation
COMM 920 (Spring 2019) -
Honors Thesis
COMM 498H (Spring 2019) -
Independent Study
COMM 599 (Spring 2019) -
Research
COMM 900 (Spring 2019) -
Dissertation
COMM 920 (Fall 2018) -
Honors Thesis
COMM 498H (Fall 2018) -
Research
COMM 900 (Fall 2018) -
Thesis
COMM 910 (Fall 2018)
2017-18 Courses
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Culture + Communication
COMM 117 (Summer I 2018) -
Intro Rsrch Methods Comm
COMM 228 (Summer I 2018) -
Intro Small Group Comm
COMM 113 (Summer I 2018) -
Intro to Org Comm
COMM 310 (Summer I 2018) -
Research
COMM 900 (Summer I 2018) -
Dissertation
COMM 920 (Spring 2018) -
Honors Thesis
COMM 498H (Spring 2018) -
Independent Study
COMM 599 (Spring 2018) -
Rel Comm:Close Relations
COMM 417A (Spring 2018) -
Rel Comm:Close Relations
COMM 517A (Spring 2018) -
Research
COMM 900 (Spring 2018) -
Thesis
COMM 910 (Spring 2018) -
Culture + Communication
COMM 117 (Fall 2017) -
Research
COMM 900 (Fall 2017) -
Rsrch Methodologies III
COMM 640 (Fall 2017)
2016-17 Courses
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Topics in Communication
COMM 496Z (Summer I 2017) -
Communication Theory I
COMM 610 (Spring 2017) -
Independent Study
COMM 399 (Spring 2017) -
Research
COMM 900 (Spring 2017) -
Culture + Communication
COMM 117 (Fall 2016) -
Intro Communication Thry
COMM 300 (Fall 2016) -
Research
COMM 900 (Fall 2016)
2015-16 Courses
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Culture + Communication
COMM 117 (Spring 2016) -
Independent Study
COMM 399 (Spring 2016) -
Research
COMM 900 (Spring 2016) -
Thesis
COMM 910 (Spring 2016)
Scholarly Contributions
Books
- Socha, T. J., & Pitts, M. J. (2012). The positive side of interpersonal communication. Peter Lang New York, NY.
Chapters
- Pitts, M. J. (2019). Howie Giles, dragons, and the intergenerational making of legends. In Language, communication, and intergroup relations: A celebration of the scholarship of Howard Giles. Routledge.
- Pitts, M. J., & Gallois, C. (2019). Social Markers in Language and Speech. In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Psychology.
- Pitts, M. J., Kim, S., Meyerhoffer, H., & Jiao, J. (2019). Savoring as positive communication. In The Routledge handbook of positive communication: Contributions of an emerging community of research on communication for happiness and social change(pp 98-107). Routledge.
- Zhang, Y. B., & Pitts, M. J. (2019). Interpersonal accommodation. In Language, communication, and intergroup relations: A celebration of the scholarship of Howard Giles. Routledge.
- Pitts, M. J. (2018). Howie Giles, dragons, and the intergenerational making of legends. In Language, Communication, and Intergroup Relations: A Celebration of the Scholarship of Howard Giles(pp 176--179). Taylor and Francis.
- Zhang, Y. B., & Pitts, M. J. (2018). Interpersonal accommodation. In Language, Communication, and Intergroup Relations: A Celebration of the Scholarship of Howard Giles(pp 192--216). Taylor and Francis.
- Pitts, M. J., & Hummert, M. L. (2014). Life span communication methodology. In Handbook of life span communication.
- Pitts, M. J. (2013). Qualitative field methods in communication. In Readings in communication research methods: From theory to practice(pp 137--148). Cognella Academic Press.
- Pitts, M. J., & Socha, T. J. (2013). Positive communication in creating healthy lives, healthy relationships, and healthy institutions. In Positive communication in health and wellness(pp 1--24). Peter Lang.
- Socha, T. J., & Pitts, M. J. (2013). Coda: Apples and positive messages: Towards healthy communication habits and wellness. In Positive communication in health and wellness(pp 299--304). Peter Lang.
- Socha, T. J., & Pitts, M. J. (2013). Coda: Positive interpersonal communication as childs play. In The positive side of interpersonal communication(pp 323--324). Peter Lang.
- Socha, T. J., & Pitts, M. J. (2013). Toward a conceptual foundation for positive interpersonal communication. In The positive side of interpersonal communication(pp 1--15). Peter Lang.
- Pitts, M. J. (2011). Dancing with the spirit: Communicating family norms for positive end-of-life transition. In Family communication, connections, and health transitions: Going through this together(pp 377--404). Peter Lang.
- Pecchioni, L., Krieger, J. C., Sparks, L., Pitts, M. J., & Ota, H. (2008). Investigating cancer and ageing from a cultural perspective. In Cancer communication and aging(pp 239--257). Hampton Press.
- Pitts, M. J., & Kundrat, A. L. (2004). Exploring social support and social identity within a multigenerational community of women. In Language matters: Communication, culture, and identity(pp 267--295).
Journals/Publications
- Aubrey, J. S., Pitts, M. J., Lutovsky, B. R., Jiao, J., Yan, K., & Stanley, S. J. (2020). Investigating Disparities by Sex and LGBTQ Identity: A Content Analysis of Sexual Health Information on College Student Health Center Websites. Journal of health communication, 1--10.
- Pitts, M. J. (2020). Epilogue: The Language Opportunities for the 21st Century. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 39(4), 567--574.
- Pitts, M. J. (2019). A Spotlight on Contemporary Language and Social Psychology Research: Selected Proceedings From the 16th International Conference on Language and Social Psychology. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 38(4), 400--408.
- Pitts, M. J. (2019). A spotlight on contemporary language and social psychology research: Selected proceedings from the 16th International Conference on Language and Social Psychology (Special Issue Introduction). Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 38, 400-408. doi:10.1177/0261927X19865295
- Pitts, M. J. (2019). The language and social psychology of savoring: Advancing the communication savoring model. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 38(2), 237--259.
- Pitts, M. J. (2019). The language and social psychology of savoring: Advancing the communication savoring model. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 38, 44-68. doi:10.1177/2329488415589101
- Pitts, M. J., Kim, S., Meyerhoffer, H., & Jiao, J. (2019). Communication Savoring as Positive Interpersonal Communication. The Routledge Handbook of Positive Communication: Contributions of an Emerging Community of Research on Communication for Happiness and Social Change.
- Stanley, S. J., Yan, K., Jiao, J., Lutovsky, B. R., Aubrey, J. S., & Pitts, M. J. (2019). Communicating about sex when it matters: a content analytic investigation of sexual health information on college student health center websites. Journal of Applied Communication Research, 47(5), 591--610.
- Stanley, S., Yan, K., Jiao, J., Lutovsky, B. R., Pitts, M. J., & Stevens Aubrey, J. L. (2019). Communicating about sex when it matters: A content analytic investigation of sexual health information on college student health center websites.. Journal of Applied Communication, 47, 591-610. doi:DOI: 10.1080/00909882.2019.1675895
- Smith, S. A., Patmos, A., & Pitts, M. J. (2018). Communication and teleworking: A study of communication channel satisfaction, personality, and job satisfaction for teleworking employees. International Journal of Business Communication, 55, 44-68.
- Stanley, S. J., & Pitts, M. J. (2019). Im Scared of the Disappointment: Young Adult Smokers Relational Identity Gaps and Management Strategies as Sites of Communication Intervention. Health communication, 34, 904-911. doi:10.1080/10410236.2018.1440507
- Stanley, S. J., & Pitts, M. J. (2019). Im Scared of the Disappointment: Young Adult Smokers Relational Identity Gaps and Management Strategies as Sites of Communication Intervention. Health communication, 904-911.
- Pitts, M. J., Kenski, K., Smith, S. A., & Pavlich, C. A. (2017). Focus Group Discussions as Sites for Public Deliberation and Sensemaking Following Shared Political Documentary Viewing. Journal of Public Deliberation, 13(2), 6. doi:https://www.publicdeliberation.net/jpd/vol13/iss2/art6
- Stanley, S. J., Kim, S., & Pitts, M. J. (2017). Gender Norms and Discourses Informing College Mens' Perceptions of Heteronormative Sexual Health Responsibilities and HPV Prevention. Communication Quarterly, online first. doi:10.1080/01463373.2017.1356338
- Stanley, S. J., Kim, S., & Pitts, M. J. (2017). Gender Norms and Discourses Informing College Mens Perceptions of Heteronormative Sexual Health Responsibilities and HPV Prevention. Communication Quarterly, 1--20.
- Brooks, C. F., & Pitts, M. J. (2016). Communication and identity management in a globally-connected classroom: An online international and intercultural learning experience. Journal of International and Intercultural Communication, 1--17.
- Castonguay, J., Filer, C. R., & Pitts, M. J. (2016). Seeking help for depression: Applying the health belief model to illness narratives. Southern Communication Journal, 81(5), 289--303.
- Pitts, M. J. (2016). Sojourner reentry: a grounded elaboration of the integrative theory of communication and cross-cultural adaptation. Communication Monographs, 83(4), 419--445.
- Pitts, M. J., & Brooks, C. F. (2016). Critical pedagogy, internationalisation, and a third space: cultural tensions revealed in students discourse. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 1--17.
- Pitts, M. J., Stanley, S. J., & Kim, S. (2017). College Males' Enduring and Novel Health Beliefs about the HPV Vaccine. Health Communication, 995-1003. doi:DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2016.1196421
- Pitts, M. J., & Harwood, J. (2015). Communication accommodation competence: The nature and nurture of accommodative resources across the lifespan. Language \& Communication, 41, 89--99.
- Fowler, C., Fisher, C., & Pitts, M. J. (2014). Older adults’ evaluations of middle-aged children’s attempts to initiate discussion of care needs.. Health Communication.
- Pitts, M. J., Fowler, C., & Fisher, C. (2014). Adult children’s use of politeness to initiate conversations with aging parents about later life health care. Journal of Language and Social Psychology.
- Pitts, M. J., Fowler, C., Fisher, C. L., & Smith, S. A. (2014). Politeness Strategies in Imagined Conversation Openers About Eldercare. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 33(1), 29--48.
- Pitts, M. J., & Tufts, K. A. (2013). Implications of the Virginia Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Mandate for Parental Vaccine Acceptance. Qualitative health research, 23(5), 605--617.
- Pitts, M. J. (2012). Practicing the Four Seasons of Ethnography Methodology while Searching for Identity in Mexico.. The Qualitative Report, 17(Art. 79), 1--21.
- Pitts, M. J., & Watson, B. M. (2012). Epilogue Trends and Forecasts in Language and Social Psychology Scholarship. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 31(4), 437--446.
- Stewart, C. O., Pitts, M. J., & Osborne, H. (2011). Mediated intergroup conflict: The discursive construction of illegal immigrants in a regional US Newspaper. Journal of language and social psychology, 30(1), 8--27.
- Kaplan, M. S., Nussbaum, J. F., Becker, J. C., Fowler, C., Pitts, M. J., & others, . (2009). Communication barriers to family farm succession planning. Journal of extension, 47(5), 1--9.
- Pitts, M. J. (2009). Identity and the role of expectations, stress, and talk in short-term student sojourner adjustment: An application of the integrative theory of communication and cross-cultural adaptation. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 33(6), 450--462.
- Pitts, M. J., & Harwood, J. (2009). Reflections on Language and Social Psychology Research From ICLASP11, Tucson, Arizona. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 28(4), 337--342.
- Pitts, M. J., Fowler, C., Kaplan, M. S., Nussbaum, J., & Becker, J. C. (2009). Dialectical tensions underpinning family farm succession planning. Journal of Applied Communication Research, 37(1), 59--79.
- Pitts, M. J., Raup-Krieger, J. L., Kundrat, A. L., & Nussbaum, J. F. (2009). Mapping the processes and patterns of family organ donation discussions: Conversational styles and strategies in live discourse. Health communication, 24(5), 413--425.
- St, J., Pitts, M., & Tufts, K. A. (2009). Disconnects between news framing and parental discourse concerning the state-mandated HPV vaccine: implications for dialogic health communication and health literacy.. Communication \& medicine, 7(1), 75--84.
- Pitts, M. J., Giles, H., Antos, G., & Ventola, E. (2008). Social psychology and personal relationships: Accommodation and relational influence across time and contexts. The handbook of interpersonal communication, 15--31.
- Jackson, R. L., Warren, J. R., Pitts, M. J., & Wilson, K. B. (2007). It is not my responsibility to teach culture!: White graduate teaching assistants negotiating identity and pedagogy. Whiteness, pedagogy, and performance. New York: Routledge.
- Pitts, M. J., & Miller-Day, M. (2007). Upward turning points and positive rapport-development across time in researcherparticipant relationships. Qualitative Research, 7(2), 177--201.
- Pitts, M. J., & Nussbaum, J. F. (2006). Integrating the Past and Paving the Future Examining Current Trends and Extending Boundaries of Language and Social Psychology Research. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 25(3), 197--202.
- Hecht, M. L., Jackson, R. L., & Pitts, M. J. (2005). Culture: Intersections of intergroup and identity theories. Intergroup communication: Multiple perspectives, 21--42.
- Nussbaum, J. F., Pitts, M. J., Huber, F. N., Krieger, J., & Ohs, J. E. (2005). Ageism and Ageist Language Across the Life Span: Intimate Relationships and Non-intimate Interactions. Journal of Social Issues, 61(2), 287--305.
- Pitts, M. J., Krieger, J. L., & Nussbaum, J. F. (2005). Finding the right place: Social interaction and life transitions among the elderly. Health communication in practice: A case study approach, 233--242.
Others
- Pitts, M. J., & Gallois, C. (2019, ?). Social markers in language and speech. Invited contribution to the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Psychology (9,500 words). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press..
- Pitts, M. J. (2018, ?). Acculturation strategies. In Y. Y. Kim (Ed.), The International Encyclopedia of Intercultural Communication (4k words). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley & Sons. DOI: 10.1002/9781118783665.ieicc0006.More infoDOI: 10.1002/9781118783665.ieicc0006
- Pitts, M. J. (2018, ?). Qualitative methods. Invited contribution to the Encyclopedia of Intergroup Communication (10k words). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press..
- Pitts, M. J., & Socha, T. (2013). Positive communication in health and wellness.
- Harwood, J., & Pitts, M. J. (2009). Current Research in Language and Social Psychology: Select Papers from ICLASP, Tucson, AZ.
- Pitts, M. J. (2005). The role of communication in cross-national adjustment and identity transitions among student sojourners.
- Pitts, M. J. (2001). Cultural Identity and Patterns of Social Support Among United States American Students Abroad.