Curriculum Vitae Highlights
Virginia W. Kupritz, Ph.D.
Professor, Associate Director and Inaugural William H. Swain Professorship
World-wide experience includes living and working in Saudi Arabia for three years where she co-founded the first female program of architecture (1982-1985); travels include Jordan, Germany, Japan, Hong Kong, Kenya, Thailand, Egypt, Canada, Hawaii, Austria, Italy, France, England, Wales, Holland, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia.
Education1990, Ph.D., Environmental Design and Planning (Interdisciplinary)
Collegeof Architecture & Urban Studies, Virginia Tech
Doctoral training in anthropology and environmental psychology applied to work organizations.
UTK2015-present Associate Director and Professor of Communication Studies, UTK
Appointments2013-2015 Acting Director and Professor of Communication Studies, UTK
2012-2013 Professor of Organizational Communication, UTK
2006-2012 Associate Professor of Organizational Communication, UTK
1994-2006 AssistantProfessor promoted to Associate Professor, UTK
Selected Peer-Reviewed Publications
Multiple publications include original contributions to privacy, such as Dr. Kupritz’s environmental privacy theory, ethnographic research methods, computer-mediation communication, training transfer, and the multigenerational workforce.
Kupritz, V.W. (2017, double blind review). “The communicative nature of space inorganizations”inG.
Koç,M. Claes, and B. Christiansen (Eds.),Handbook of research on culturalinfluences in
architecture,IGI Global, 58-79.
Tipton, W., & Kupritz, V.W. (in press). Using the outdoor scavenger hunt to teach theories
oforganizationalcommunication.Communication Teacher,1-14.
Kupritz, V.W. (2011). Individual and group privacy needs across job types. Phase 1 study.Journal
ofArchitectural and PlanningResearch, 28, 298-313.
Kupritz, V.W., & Hillsman, T. (2011). The impact of the physical environment on supervisorycommunication
skills transfer.Journal ofBusiness Communication, 48, 148-185.
Kupritz, V.W., & Cowell, E. (2011, accepted 2008). Productive management communication:Online and face-
to-face.Journal of Business Communication,48,54-82.
Hillsman, T., & Kupritz, V.W. (2010). Another look at the relative impact of workplace designon training
transfer for supervisorycommunication skills.Performance ImprovementQuarterly, 23, 107-130.
Abston, K., & Kupritz, V. W. (2010). Employees as customers:Exploring service climate, employee
patronage, and turnover. Performance Improvement Quarterly, 23, 7-26.
Note: Bold highlight indicates doctoral student.
Professional experience
Dr. Kupritz’s academic and professional career spans 25+ years across several universities both in the US and abroad as a professor, administrator and consultant: oversaw the design and construction of multiple educational as the Assistant Facilities Planner that were valued at over 50 million USD during the late 1970’s; co-founded the first architectural program for females in Saudi Arabia at King Faisal University during the 1980’s. Since the 1990’s her leadership roles at UTK include serving as the Acting Director and now Associate Director for the School of Communication Studies; P.I. on multiple grants and contracts;Graduate Coordinator for several programs;Board of Directors member for an international research association; committee chair for multiple master’s and doctoral students; and Editorial Board member for several leading journals.Her passion and commitment to teaching are the same today as they were when she was awarded the UTK Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.
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