Ebony A. Utley, Ph.D.

Ebony A. Utley, Ph.D.

Professor of Communication Studies

Associate Director, CSULB Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

 

Areas of Expertise:

Interpersonal Communication, Popular Culture, and Technology

What are your Research interests?

My research explores intimacy interrupted by infidelity, investigates beliefs about marriage, studies the relationship between hip hop and love, examines rappers’ intimate relationships with God, and considers the impact of boys’ early childhood sexual violations on their adult intimacy. My expertise has been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Network and other radio, print, and online outlets.

What are your Teaching interests?

I teach interpersonal communication, criticism, qualitative research methods, and innovation.  

What courses have you taught?

I have taught in order of my most to least favorite courses:

  • Dark Side of Interpersonal Communication (COMM 490)
  • Communication in Families (COMM 414/614)
  • Interpersonal Communication (COMM 110)
  • Communication and Popular Culture (COMM 439/639)
  • Communication and Gender (COMM 412)
  • Communication Criticism (COMM 301)

How do you serve the department and the university and the community?

I am the Associate Director for the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at CSULB. I plan campus-wide events related to technology and innovation and secure community and corporate partnerships for our entrepreneurial-minded students.