EDUCATION
Ph.D in Communication (2025)
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MA in Communication (2021)
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BA in Communication with focus in Social Advocacy
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AA In Graphic Design / AA in Behavioral Science
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RESEARCH STATEMENT
My research interests are responsive to the cultural and organizational contexts in which I am immersed in. Specifically, I explore questions concerning how people, like myself, make sense of trauma, stigma, and organizing through narrative. For example, my dissertation project “Writing/writing like my life depends on it” explores what it means to have a graffiti identity and how that identity is negotiated in organizational settings. This work, in addition to other manuscripts I have presented at national conferences, crystalizes autoethnographic and critical-qualitative methodologies to create evocative and collaborative accounts of communicative phenomena. My work is guided by post-structural and de-colonial sensibilities, which invite me to consider how research can be applied to the communities I do research with for their benefit. Accordingly, my research often incorporates drawing, painting, poetry, and storytelling alongside traditional ethnographic techniques like responsive interviewing and textual analysis to provide layered accounts.
ACADEMIC & ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS
2023 - Present
HOCKING COLLEGE
2021 - 2025
OHIO UNIVERSITY
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Marketing & Communications Manager
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Instructor of record
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COMS 1030 Public Speaking
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COMS 2150 Argumentative Analysis and Advocacy
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COMS 1100 Communication Among Cultures
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Teaching Assitance
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COMS 1100 Communication Among Cultures (Large Lecture Format)
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Research Appointments
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Indigenous Standpoint Theory in Twitter Discourse
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Supervisor: Dr. Benjamin LaPoe
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Contribution: Narrative Thematic Analysis
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Community Resilience During Extreme Weather Events
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Supervisor: Dr. Natalie Cruz (geography)
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Contribution: Focus group interview facilitation and data analysis
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Activating Activism
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Supervisor: Dr. Amy Chadwick
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Contribution: Synthesizing relevant literature and research design.
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2018-2020
SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY
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Graduate Teaching Assistant
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COMS 103 Public Speaking
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HONORS & AWARDS
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Research Awards
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Organizational Communication Top 5 Student Paper Award (2023) National award presented by the National Communication Association in the student category.
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Academic Achievement Awards
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Presidential Scholar Award (2017) University award for outstanding academic performance
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Deans List (Fall 2016 and Spring 2017) University award for outstanding academic performance
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Service Awards
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Outstanding Communication Scholar (2017) Departmental award for outstanding research and service
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Student Representative Award (2017) Departmental award for service
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SCOLARLY PRODUCTIVITY
Journal Articles
Rodrigue-Barnes, M., (Invited to Revise-and-Resubmit). Magna cum-blasé: (un)Deservingness and Socialization through Autoethnography in the Academy. Departures in Critical Qualitative Research.
Book Chapters
Black, L. W., Kay, C. S., Rodrigue-Barnes, M., Finkelshteyn, S., Shaffer, T. J., & Lahera, D. A. (2024). Building Positive Peace Through Dialogue and Deliberation. In M. J. O’Hair, P. A. Woods, & H. D. O’Hair (Eds.), Communication and Education: Promoting Peace and Democracy in Times of Crisis and Conflict (pp. 164-182). Wiley-Blackwell.
Manuscripts in Progress
Rodrigue-Barnes, M. (In-Progress—identifying journal for submission). From Silence to Song: Surviving Intergenerational Trauma Through Art and Autoethnography.
Rodrigue-Barnes, M. (In-Progress—first draft). It’s all small potatoes: Family caregiving in times of crisis.
Rodrigue-Barnes, M. (In-Progress—data collection). Beggars, Buskers, and the Band of Tributes: The communicative discipline of Street Performance
Rodrigue-Barnes, M. (In Progress—data collection). Activism and Organizing for Housing Equity: The story of the Student Housing Advocate Alliance.
Rodrigue-Barnes, M. R. (In Progress—methods). Relational Load and Estrangement in Families Experiencing Homelessness: Testing The TRRL.
Professional Presentations
NCA 2025 – Aurora, CO
November 16 – 19, 2025
Rodrigue-Barnes, M.R. (2025, November 16-19) From Silence to Song: Communicating to Elevate Intergenerational Mental Health. Presented during Family Messages and the Making of the Self: Mental Health, Eating, and Identity Development. Paper Sessions at NCA 111th Annual Convention
NCA 2023 - National Harbor, MD
November 16 - 19 , 2023
Rodrigue-Barnes, M. R. (2023, November 16-19) Magna cum blasé: finding freedom in activism, autoethnography, and academic socialization. Presented during the Organizational Communication Division's top student paper award panel at NCA 109th Annual Convention in National Harbor, MD
Rodrigue-Barnes, M. R. (2023, November 16-19) “I can’t think of a better way to get your message across than writing it on a wall”: Deliberation, Craftivism & Freedom. Presented during Activism and Social Justice Division's individual paper sessions at NCA 109th Annual Convention in National Harbor, MD
Rodrigue-Barnes, M. R. (2023, November 16-19) Freedom & Housing Insecurity: A case study of activist groups in Humboldt County, California. Presented during Group Communication Division's extended abstracts at NCA (2023) in National Harbor, MD
Rodrigue-Barnes, M. R. (2023, November 16-19) Postcards from a place of healing: grieving suicide through exo-autoethnography and visual narrative. Presented during Health Communication Division's extended abstracts at NCA 109th Annual Convention in National Harbor, MD.
NCA 2022 - New Orleans, LA
November 16 - 19, 2022
Rodrigue-Barnes, M. R. (2022, November 16-19) Beggars, Buskers, and the band of tributes: Honoring PLACE. Presented during Honoring PLACE Paper Sessions at NCA 108th Annual Convention in New Orleans, LA.
Wilson, C. Rodrigue-Barnes, M. R., Cameron, C., Lacy, N., Gerdes, K., Adams, M., Sanches, A., & Rogers, N. (2023, November 16-19). Emancipatory Potentials Through Narrative Sensibilities: Storytelling in Scholarship, Teaching, And Mentorship for Social Change, Intellectual Freedom, and Inclusion. Presented during Student Panels at NCA (2023) in National Harbor, MD
WSCA 2020 - Online
November 19 - 22, 2020
Barnes, M. R. (2020, November 19-22). Relational Load and Estrangement in Families Experiencing Homelessness: Testing The TRRL. Presented during Research in Progress Roundtables at Western States Communication Association’s 2020 Annual Convention online.
TEACHING & ACADEMIC TRAINING
Instructor of Record
Ohio University, School of Communication Studies (Fall 2021 – Spring 2025)
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Courses Taught: COMS 2150 (Argumentative Analysis & Advocacy), COMS 1100 (Communication Among Cultures), COMS 1030 (Public Speaking)
Teaching Assistantships
Ohio University, School of Communication Studies (Spring 2023)
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Courses Assisted: COMS 1100 (Communication Among Cultures)
San Diego State University, Department of Communication (Fall 2019 – Spring 2021)
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Courses Assisted: Public Speaking COMM 100
Curriculum Development
Ohio University, School of Communication Studies (Fall 2021 – Spring 2025)
Argumentative Analysis and Advocacy
Developed and adapted syllabi, course assignments, lectures, activities, and assignments as the instructor of record
Communication Among Cultures
Developed and adapted syllabi, course assignments, lectures, activities, and graded assignments as the instructor of record and teaching assistant
Independent Study in Crystalizing Methodology Spring 2023
Created writing assignments, curated reading materials, and developed syllabi as a part of an independent study guided by Dr. Laura Black.
Public Speaking
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Developed and adapted syllabi, course assignments, lectures, activities, and graded assignments as the instructor of record
Sudden Loss, Stigma, and Family Communication
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Developed a graduate-level special course including curating reading materials and developing assignments as a part of a Doctoral seminar in Family Communication under the instruction of Dr. Angela Hosek.
Other Academic Training
Certificate in Autoethnography: A Qualitative Research Method (2025), Bradley University
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Bradley University’s Certificate in Autoethnography trains students in the ethics, application, and tradition of Autoethnography.
AI Academy (2024), Hosted by AI OWL at Hocking College
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Hocking College in partnership with AI OWL, an education-focused consultant for artificial intelligence use and application trained employees on effective and ethical use of AI.
Teacher Training Academy (2021 - 2025), Ohio University
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OU’s College of Communication hosts a Teacher Training Academy, an intensive 2-week readiness program focused on creating a participatory, hands-on classroom. Graduate students attend regular training sessions for the duration of their Ph. D program.
Graduate Assistant’s Orientation (2019 - 2021) San Diego State University
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SDSU’s School of Communication hosts an annual orientation that guides incoming graduate students through teaching, grading, and problem solving in the classroom. Graduate students meet once per week throughout their first year in the program.
INVITED LECTURES & WORKSHOPS
Hocking College: Department of English and Communication (2025)
Performed a series of lectures centered on ethical and practical uses of artificial intelligence in research for English 100.
Ohio Association of Community Colleges: AI Use as Hocking College marketing partner (2025)
Presented Hocking College’s strategic use and results of artificial intelligence as a way to facilitate dialogue on campus.
Ohio University: School of Communication Studies (2023)
Performed a series of lectures centered on identity, communication and cultural discourse for Communication Among Cultures (COMM 1100).
Invited Workshops
Hocking College (Fall 2025) Introduction to ChatGPT Enterprise and Ethical Use.
Hosted weekly workshops to guide students through the strategic and ethical use of artificial intelligence in academia.
Hocking College (Spring 2025). Artificial Intelligence for Small Businesses.
Hosted workshop for small businesses in Southeast Ohio to help explore AI applications.
SERVICE
Performing Arts Club Advisor 2025
Hocking College
Mentored community college students in performance and event planning.
Teacher Training Academy 2023
Ohio University: School of Communication Studies
Presented during a student panel discussion about teaching across different cultures.
GradCo (Graduate Student Organization) Volunteer 2023-24
Ohio University: School of Communication Studies
Developed graphics for GradCo events
Homeless Student Advocate Alliance 2016-2017
Cal Poly Humboldt: Student Club
Develop Outreach Campaigns, Lobby State Government, Policy Change, Fundraising, Graphic Design, Networking, Public Speaking, Social Media and Blogging.
Home-Enet 2017
Cal Poly Humboldt: School of Social Work
Youth Outreach, Education, and Activity Planning.
Communication Club 2016-2017
Cal Poly Humboldt: School of Communication
Graphic Design, Event Planning, Campus Outreach, Recruiting, Treasury, and Social Media
Sonoma Valley Teen Services 2005-2013
Community Nonprofit Organization
Graphic Design, Customer Service, Stage Hand, Lights, Sound, Booking, Management, Sales, and Student Board Member.
KSVY 91.3 FM 2005-2006
Community Radio Station
Radio Broadcast, Radio Show Host, Current Events and Request Line.