Laura Guerrero awarded the Jeanne Lind Herberger Professorship in Communication

Arizona State University's Hugh Downs School of Human Communication has chosen Laura Guerrero as the next Jeanne Lind Herberger Professor in Communication.

Guerrero, a leading researcher in interpersonal and nonverbal communication, has written several books, many articles, chapters and encyclopedia entries on communication in relationships. She was also recently honored with a teaching award from the International Association for Relationship Research.  

A professor at the Hugh Downs School since 1998, Guerrero also serves as director of innovation and engagement and as the school liaison to Barrett, the Honors College at ASU. She also served as interim associate director of the Hugh Downs School during the 2020–21 academic year.

"Professor Guerrero has a long history of excellent research and teaching in the field of interpersonal communication and close relationships," said Professor Sarah Tracy, director of the Hugh Downs School. "She is a thought leader in the discipline, an award-winning teacher-mentor, author of multiple textbooks, and has generously shared her talents throughout the ASU community. It is a great honor that her colleagues selected her as the next Herberger Endowed Professor."

Jeanne Herberger, a three-time alumna of the Hugh Downs School, including its doctoral program, pledged $500,000 in 1997 to create the professorship, a rotating three-year term meant to give the school flexibility to meet diverse and changing needs.

Herberger and her late husband, Gary, individually and together, have contributed over $50 million to ASU. She is deeply involved in Phoenix community issues such as education, community development, the arts and other concerns regarding women and children.

“I congratulate Dr. Guerrero and wish her success in continuing her very valuable work,” Jeanne Herberger said. “Dr. Guerrero will use this opportunity in her communication expertise of conflict management, relational, emotional and non-verbal communication. Through her quantitative analysis expertise, she works to enhance and improve relationships. Through her teaching, she educates students on the opportunities they have to solve conflicts and better manage their dealing with others. Dr. Guerrero offers us the opportunity to improve relationships, which our country and the world, at large, badly needs.” 

Before Guerrero, the professorship was held by Paul Mongeau, one of several faculty members who nominated Guerrero.

“Laura Guerrero is an outstanding scholar and teacher, and gives of herself to students, the Hugh Downs School, ASU and the discipline,” Mongeau said. “It is entirely appropriate that Laura serves as Herberger Endowed Professor as we are fortunate and proud to have her as a colleague.”

Jeanne Herberger and her late husband, Gary.

“I am deeply honored to have been selected,” Guerrero said. “I am also excited and grateful to have support for pursuing some new avenues of research.”

Spearheading Guerrero’s nomination was Belle Edson, director of undergraduate studies at the Hugh Downs School.

“The Herberger professorship seeks to honor and celebrate a scholar-teacher, and that is what Dr. Laura Guerrero is: the quintessential scholar-teacher," Edson said. "We wanted to honor all the work and effort she has contributed to our school and the field in general. She is so deserving!”

Guerrero will receive annual funding, which could be used for a variety of scholarly pursuits, including travel to conferences and other requirements of an active scholar and teacher. 

Previous recipients of the Jeanne Lind Herberger Professor in Communication include:

• Robert McPhee, 1998–01.
• Judith Martin, 2001–04.
• Daniel Canary, 2004–07.
• Jess Alberts, 2007–10.
• Steven Corman, 2010–13.
• Benjamin Broome, 2013–16.
• Sarah Tracy, 2016–19.
• Paul Mongeau, 2019–22.