Skip Navigation

Academics

Meet the Faculty

Photo of Robert

Robert "Bert" Ballard
Assistant Professor of Communication

Division: Communication Division
Office: Center for Communication and Business (CCB) 259
Phone: (310) 506-6801
Fax: (310) 456-3083
E-mail: bert.ballard@pepperdine.edu

  • Ph.D., Human Communication Studies (Rhetoric & Communication Ethics), University of Denver
  • Graduate Certificate, Theology, Denver Seminary
  • M.S., Recreation Resources, Colorado State University
  • B.S., Natural Resources Recreation and Tourism, Colorado State University

Selected Service Accomplishments:
  • Co-Chair, Inter-Country Adoption Curriculum of the 2012 Child Welfare Symposium
  • Co-chair, Inter-Country Adoption Summit, (2010, September 23-26), Stratford, Ontario. Inaugural gathering of top 150 international government, NGOs, scholars, and researchers to discuss intercountry adoption at a global level. Produced first-ever comprehensive series of action steps related to intercountry adoption in world. Stratford, Ontario.
  • Film Advisor and Cast Member. Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam 2006-2010.
  • Ballard, B., & Emmett, J. (2009 and ongoing). Adopted--The Comic. Online comic strip. Available here.
  • Editorial Board Member, Journal of Family Communication, 2009 to present.
  • Family Communication Expert, National Communication Association, Family and Interpersonal Communication--Adoption, 2009 to present.
  • Secretary/Treasurer, Communication Ethics Division, National Communication Association, 1st term: 2005-2007, 2nd term: 2007-2009.
  • Regular and on-going contributor to: Adoption Today, Children's Bridge (adoption agency), Pact (adoption support), EMK Press Newsletter (adoption resource), China Connections, and Chicken Soup for the Adopted Soul. (On-going). 14 publications in past 3 years.
  • Frequent speaker, presenter, consultant, and trainer at adoption conferences, gatherings, workshops, and adoption groups for all members of adoption triad. Over 20 different presentations or consultant activities in the past 5 years.

Courses:
  • Interpersonal Communication
  • Communication Ethics
  • Communication Research
Key Awards/Affiliations:
  • Six Top Paper Awards at various national and regional conferences
  • National Communication Association
  • Communication Ethics Division (National Communication Association)
  • The Religious Communication Association
  • Alliance for the Study of Adoption
  • North American Council on Adoptable Children
Academic Interests:
  • Communication Ethics
  • Family Communication
  • International Adoption
Selected Works:
  • Ballard, R. L. (in press). I heard the call, but he wasn't actually there: Sacred communication with my new son. International Review of Qualitative Research.
  • Ballard, R. L. & Ballard, S. J. (2011). From narrative inheritance to narrative momentum: Past, present, and future stories in an international adoptive family. Journal of Family Communication, 11, 69-84.
  • Suter, E. A., Reyes, K. L., & Ballard, R. L. (2011). Parental management of adoptive identities during challenging encounters: Adoptive parents as "protectors" and "educators. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 28, 242-261.
  • Ballard, R. L. (2011, January 31). Buying children or saving orphans?: Controversies of international adoption. Invited lecture for Controversies: A Series of Public Lectures by Professors in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Waterloo and ARTS 301: Studies in Humanities. Includes a podcast interview available here.
  • Ballard, R. L. (2009). The most exciting thing: Researcher ethics and personal ethics. New Directions in Teaching and Learning, 120, 55-64.
  • Suter, E. A., & Ballard, R. L. (2009). 'How much did you pay for her?: Decision-making criteria underlying adoptive parents' responses to inappropriate remarks', Journal of Family Communication, 9,107-125.
  • Ballard, R. L. (2009) Granpa's Call: Conscience, Ethics, and Aporias. Qualitative Inquiry, 15, 467-482.
  • Ballard, B. (2009, October/November). The narrative of international adoption. Conducive: Conceive, chronicle, change (online magazine). Available here.
  • Ballard, R. L. (Ed.). (2009). Pieces of me: Who do I want to be? Warren, NJ: EMK Press
Selected Links: