Katherine Ann Rush, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Education:
- Honors B.A., Communication Studies, Baylor University
- M.S., Organizational Communication, Texas Christian University
- Ph.D., Organizational Communication, University of Oklahoma
Courses:
- CSS 4301, Organizational Communication
Research Interests:
I am primarily interested in well-being and organizational communication specifically related to positive organizational scholarship and positive deviance. Most of my research to date focuses on the helping professions, examining how the unique emotional and relational demands of this sector inform wellbeing, emotion, and culture. Additionally, I study how organizational processes, such as socialization, social support, and identification, are enacted in short-term organizational experiences where exit is anticipated throughout membership. More recently, I study extraordinary cases of positive deviance in organizations, examining communication practices that are honorable, exemplary, and intentional. I am particularly attentive to communication that facilitates wellbeing, the public good, meaningfulness of work, resilience, and flourishing, especially in emotion-laden caregiving work that holds immense social significance, yet easily lends to burnout and exhaustion. The goal of my research is to utilize theory and methodology to conduct empirical research that has meaning for applied contexts.
Teaching Philosophy:
As an instructor, I build my teaching philosophy upon three primary pillars: pedagogical rigor, dedicated mentorship, and student development. Through these educational values, I aim for my students to progress as learners, but also to mature as individuals who are able to think critically, respect others, and contribute meaningfully to the world. I prioritize depth and substance in course content, presenting material in clear and engaging ways through lectures, videos, writing assignments, readings, creative group work, and discussions. By cultivating a growth mindset in the classroom, I encourage students to release perfectionism and embrace opportunities to learn, even when growth involves failure. Rather than delivering information for students to merely memorize and reiterate, I view teaching as a form of coaching through which students are challenged to test limits, trained to evaluate ideas, and prepared apply them to the real world. I believe that wisdom is often “caught not taught,” and that meaningful relationships are crucial to flourishing inside and outside the classroom. As an instructor, I aim to encourage my students in the pursuit of wisdom: knowledge rightly applied. Given the plethora of ambiguous decisions, challenging issues, and polarizing disagreements that characterize our world, it is critical that students not only learn meaningful content in the classroom, but also learn to adeptly apply this knowledge with discernment, care, and humility. I believe my role as an educator is to facilitate this process; certainly, by investing in students’ knowledge, but more importantly, to foster students’ wisdom.
Family, Outside Hobbies and Interests:
In my free time, I love spending quality time with my family and friends, as well as my golden retriever Okie Bear. I’m always on the lookout for good coffee and enjoy finding the best local spots around town. I’m also very invested in the local church and am involved in writing efforts to help women study the Bible for themselves. My favorite season is fall, and my favorite place to be is hosting friends in my home!
What is the best thing about being a Baylor Bear?
The best thing about being a Baylor Bear is the people. I cherish the relationships and memories from my undergrad years here and have remained close with mentors, professors, and friends from that season. The Baylor family is so special, and the way people invest their lives into one another is incredibly transformative. My relationship with the Lord has been nurtured and strengthened over the years through my involvement at Baylor, and I’m grateful to work at a top-tier research and teaching university that exists for God’s glory. There’s no place quite like it!