John Wooden
Research
Hello and welcome to my virtual office!
I'm a Professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Kentucky. My research focuses on understanding how message characteristics interact with individual differences to improve sustained attitude and behavior change in instructional, risk, organizational, health, risk, crisis and other applied contexts.
Over the past decade my collaborative work has been used to explain how instructional messages can be used as catalysts to mitigate personal risk in crisis situations. I'm honored to have been a recipient of several prestigious research awards (2003 UK CI College Research Award, 2004 KCA Distinguished Research Award) and multiple top paper honors for my collaborative work in communication technology (1998-ICA), public relations (2013-NCA), instructional (1994-CSCA, 1996-ICA, 1998-ICA, 2016-NCA), health (2015-WSCA), interpersonal (2023-NCA) and group communication (2004-NCA, 2024-NCA).
Teaching
As much as I enjoy engaging in research, I also have an unequaled passion for teaching. I've had the pleasure of designing and teaching undergraduate courses in communication theory, comparative research methods, small group, organizational, and interpersonal communication as well as training and development, negotiation and conflict management, leadership, communication and technology, and risk and crisis communication. I've also had the privelege of preparing and leading graduate seminars in quantitative research methods, communication theory, instructional communication, training and consulting, theory construction, advanced survey research methods, leadership, and interpersonal communication. I invite you to visit the teaching section of my virtual office to learn more about my philosophy of teaching and, grading, and to review my course syllabi, and course evaluations. I'm honored to have been the recipient of several prestigious teaching awards (1990, 1991, 1998, 2000, 2005, 2023)--having been recognized with the UK Alumni Great Teacher Award twice--once in 2000 and again in 2023!
Service
Since arriving at UK in 1996, I've willingly provided service to my department, college, university, and profession. I've served on (and chaired) departmental committees (e.g., admissions and placement, curriculum and assessment, resource, academic personnel, strategic planning, and ad-hoc search committees), graduate committees (e.g., admissions and financial aid, program, review, resource, recruitment, scholarships and awards) and college committees (e.g., college awards, faculty council, strategic planning). I've been active as an administrator and campus leader for over twenty years. I began my administrative journey as the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs in Communication (2005-2009) where I managed the M.A. and Ph.D. programs in Communication. I then went on to serve as Senior Associate Dean for Administrative Affairs (2013-2020) followed by Interim Dean of the College of Communication and Information (2018-2019). I voluntarily returned to my full-time role as a Faculty member in January 2020 and now jokingly refer to myself as a "recovering administrator."
Ongoing Research Projects
I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.
Edward Everett Hale
Bio Sketch
Derek R. Lane is a Professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Kentucky. His research focuses on understanding how message characteristics interact with individual differences to improve sustained attitude and behavior change in instructional, risk, organizational, health, risk, crisis and other applied contexts. Over the past decade his work has been used to explain how instructional messages can be used as catalysts to mitigate personal risk in crisis situations.
Beyond his primary research foci, Derek is an expert in Team-Based Learning (TBL) which was the topic of his doctoral dissertation. He has facilitated TBL workshops at national and international conferences and has published several TBL articles related to faculty facilitation skills, peer feedback, and TBL test taking. He was fortunate to study with Dr. Larry Michaelsen (the founder of TBL and a member of Dr. Lane's doctoral committee) at the University of Oklahoma in the early 1990s.
Dr. Lane's collaborative research has been funded by the U.S. Department of Education, the National Institute of Drug Abuse, the National Institute of Mental Health, and the National Science Foundation and appears in Communication Monographs, Communication Education, Media Psychology, Communication Research Reports, Health Promotion Practice, the Journal of Engineering Education and the Journal of Experimental Education.
He teaches undergraduate courses in communication theory, comparative research methods, small group, organizational, and interpersonal communication as well as training and development, negotiation and conflict management, leadership, communication and technology, and risk and crisis communication. He teaches graduate seminars in quantitative research methods, communication theory, instructional communication, training and consulting, theory construction, advanced survey research methods, leadership, and interpersonal communication. He held Reynolds Endowed Professorship in the UK College of Engineering from 2004-2015 and is the recipient of several prestigious teaching awards--having been honored with the Alumni Great Teacher Award twice--once in 2000 and again in 2023.
Dr. Lane's expertise and professional training encompass specialty areas which include Team Building, Mediation, Negotiation and Conflict Management, Leadership, Communication Skills Training and Development, Technological Innovations in Organizations, and Business and Professional Speaking. He has consulted with and designed programs for such groups as Shriner's Hospital, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, UK Emerging Leader Institute, Boone County Schools, Ohio Leadership Institute, Oklahoma City Clinic, Norman Police Academy, Education, Prevention, Intervention Community Center, Southwest Regional Center for Drug-free Schools and Communities, University of Nebraska Foundation, West Virginia University's College of Creative Arts and Media, and the United States Department of Defense. Dr. Lane completed the Training and Development Certificate Program developed by the University of Oklahoma Center for Public Management and Educational Development while completing his doctorate and is certified by the Institute of Cultural Affairs as a professional trainer for Basic Group Facilitation Methods and Participatory Strategic Planning.
Derek has been an active administrator and campus leader at the University of Kentucky for over twenty years. He began his journey as Associate Dean for Graduate Programs in Communication (2005-2009) where he provided oversight of both the M.A. and Ph.D. programs in Communication. He went on to serve as Senior Associate Dean for Administrative Affairs (2013-2020) and as Interim Dean of the College of Communication and Information (2018-2019). He returned to his full-time role as a Faculty member in January 2020 and currently refers to himself as a "recovering administrator."
Derek and his wife Jan live in Nicholasville, Kentucky with their Golden Doodle, "Woodford" (named after the bourbon--not the county).
