Michael Jeffress

• PhD, Regent University
• MDiv, BMA Theological Seminary
• MA, BA, BMin, Harding University

• Study skills
• Health & wellness counseling
• Test prep and anxiety management
• Disability studies
• Communication studies
• Research methods

• Muscular Dystrophy Association Goodwill Ambassador Family
• MA Academic Achievement Award
• National Communication Association (NCA)
• Top Graduate Student Paper Panel
• NCA Disability Issues Caucus Top Paper Award
• Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society Honorary Inductee

Books Published

1. Jeffress, M.S. (Lead Editor). (2023). The Palgrave handbook of disability and communication. Palgrave MacMillan.
2. Jeffress, M.S. (Editor). (2022). Disability representation in film, TV, and print media. Interdisciplinary Disability Studies. Routledge.
3. Jeffress, M. S. (Editor). (2018). International perspectives on teaching with disability: Overcoming obstacles and enriching lives. Interdisciplinary Disability Studies. Routledge.
4. Jeffress, M. S. (Editor). (2017). Pedagogy, disability, and communication: Applying disability studies in the classroom. Interdisciplinary Disability Studies. Routledge.
5. Jeffress, M. S. (2015, 2017). Communication, sport, and disability: The case of power soccer. Interdisciplinary Disability Studies. Routledge.

Book Chapters

• Jeffress, M. S., Cypher, J. M., Ferris, J., & Scott-Pollock, J.-A. (2023). Disability studies and communication studies: A complicated pursuit. In The Palgrave handbook of disability and communication. Palgrave MacMillan.
• Jeffress, M. S. (2022). Introduction. In Disability representation in film, TV, and print media. Routledge.
• Jeffress, M. S. (2018). Editor’s preface and introduction. In International perspectives on teaching with disability: Overcoming obstacles and enriching lives. (pp. xix-xxviii). Interdisciplinary Disability Studies. Routledge.
• Newton, P. T., Jeffress, M. S., & Thomas, A. K. (2018) Disclosing disability around the water cooler: Strategies for boosting collegiality in academe. Chapter in International perspectives on teaching with disability: Overcoming obstacles and enriching lives. (pp. 253-270). Interdisciplinary Disability Studies. Routledge.
• Brown, W. J., & Jeffress, M. S. (2018). “The impact of having a teacher with a disability on student attitudes toward persons with disabilities.” Chapter in International perspectives on teaching with disability: Overcoming obstacles and enriching lives. (pp. 271-288). Interdisciplinary Disability Studies. Routledge.
• Rugoho, T., & Jeffress, M. S. (2018). My class, My disability, My struggle. Chapter in International perspectives on teaching with disability: Overcoming obstacles and enriching lives. (pp. 50-61). Interdisciplinary Disability Studies. Routledge.
• Jeffress, M. S. (2017). “Editor’s preface.” Chapter in Pedagogy, disability, and communication: Applying disability studies in the classroom. (pp. xv-xx).  Interdisciplinary Disability Studies. Routledge.
• Baldwin, P. K., & Jeffress, M. S. (2017). “Incorporating disability studies into the communication classroom through a high impact engagement nonverbal communication assignment.” Chapter in Pedagogy, disability, and communication: Applying disability studies in the classroom. (pp. 49-64).  Interdisciplinary Disability Studies. Routledge.
• Brockmann, B., & Jeffress, M. S. (2017). “Unleashing disability perspectives in the public speaking course.” Chapter in Pedagogy, disability, and communication: Applying disability studies in the classroom. (pp.203-218). Interdisciplinary Disability Studies. Routledge.

Refereed Articles Published

• Medley, M. B., Breaud, M. F., Jeffress, M. S., Guillot, D. J., & Rhodes, J. L. F. (2022). Postsecondary students with intellectual disabilities: A mixed methods evaluation of peer perceptions in the inclusion environment. International Journal of Social Policy and Education, 4(5), 1-11.
• Jeffress, M. S. (2019). Disability framing in a Caribbean University newspaper. Tout Moun: The Caribbean Journal of Cultural Studies, 5(1), 1-14. Read here.
• Cottingham, M., Hums, M., Jeffress, M. S., Lee, D., & Richard, H. (2018). Women of power soccer: Exploring disability and gender in the first competitive team sport for powerchair users. Sport in Society. Read here.
• Jeffress, M. S. (2017). A study of the demographics, exposure levels, and perceptions of the viewing audience of Pastor Joel Osteen, America’s most popular preacher. Journal of Media Critiques, 3(12), 291-309. Read here.
• Jeffress, M. S., & Brown, W. J. (2017). Opportunities and benefits for powerchair users through power soccer.” Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly. 34(3), 233-255. doi: 10.1123/apaq.2016-0022
• Jeffress, M. S., & Brown, W. J. (2017). Freedom of choice in The Great Divorce: C.S. Lewis’s rhetorical vision of the afterlife. CSL: The Bulletin of the New York C. S. Lewis Society, 48(2), 1-14.
• Jeffress, M. S. (2015). Uses and effects of MySpace among Christian teens and young adults. Journal of Media Critiques, 1(1), 145-166. Read here.

• Disability studies
• Communication studies
• Pedagogy
• Adult learning

• (2021). “Disability, Intersectionality and Communication.” Chair of paper panel presented at the 107^th Annual Convention of the National Communication Association, Seattle, WA, November 18, 2021.
• (2021). “Transforming Interpersonal Interactions with Disabled People.” Chair of paper panel presented at the 107^th Annual Convention of the National Communication Association, Seattle, WA, November 19, 2021.
• (2021). “Navigating the Intersection of Disability and Health: Identity, Structure, and Experience.” Respondent to paper panel presented at the 107^th Annual Convention of the National Communication Association, Seattle, WA, November 20, 2021.
• (2020). “Best Practices in Addressing Hidden Dis/Abilities: Pedagogy, Praxis, and Performance in the Basic Course.” Presenter on a panel sponsored by NCA Diversity Council at the 106th Annual Convention of the National Communication Association, Virtual Conference, November 2020.
• (2017). “Looking back, in and forward: Perspectives on the place and performance of differently-abled instructors.” Chair of paper session presented to the Disability Issues Caucus of the National Communication Association, Dallas, TX, USA.
• (2017). “Bridging the gap for differently-abled teachers through disclosure.” Chair of paper session presented to the Disability Issues Caucus of the National Communication Association, Dallas, TX, USA.
• (2017). “The Impact of Having an Instructor with Disability on Student Attitudes toward People with Disabilities.” Paper presented to the Disability Issues Caucus of the National Communication Association, Dallas, TX, USA.
• (2017). Disclosing Disability around the Water Cooler: Strategies for Boosting Collegiality in Academe. Paper presented to the Disability Issues Caucus of the National Communication Association, Dallas, TX, USA.
• (2017). “Bridging the gap for motorized wheelchair users: Power soccer, athletic identity and communication.” Paper accepted for presentation to the Scholar-to-Scholar Division at the 103rd Annual Convention of the National Communication Association, Dallas, Texas, USA, November 2017.
• (2017). “Finally, a Sport for Us”: A Reading and Discussion from the First Book on Power Soccer—The First Competitive Team Sport for Motorized Wheelchair Users. Presentation made to the annual Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability and Diversity, Honolulu, Hawaii, October 9, 2017.
• (2017). The Impact of Inclusive Classroom Experiences on the Perceptions of “Mainstream Students.” Paper presented to the annual Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability and Diversity, Honolulu, Hawaii, October 10, 2017.
• (2017). Disability representation in a Caribbean university newspaper.” Paper presented to the annual West Indian Literature Conference, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, October 4, 2017.
• (2017). “‘Finally, a Sport for Us!’ Participant experiences in power soccer—The first competitive team sport for motorized wheelchair users.” Staff Seminar, The UWI, April 7, 2017.
• Jeffress, M. S., Cottingham, M., Hums M., and Lee, D. (2016). Women of Power Soccer: Exploring Disability and Gender in the First Competitive Team Sport for Powerchair Users. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the North American Society for the Sociology of Sport, Tampa Bay, Florida, November 2-5, 2016. 
• Jeffress, M. S. (2016) A rhetorical examination of televangelist Joel Osteen’s most popular sermon in the context of viewer opinions.” Paper presented to the annual meeting of the Popular culture Association/American Culture Association, Seattle, WA, March 21-25, 2016.
• Jeffress, M. S. (2015). Creating opportunities for interdisciplinary disability studies in communication studies curricula. Chair of paper session presented to the National Communication Association at the 101st Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, NV, November 19-22, 2015.
• Jeffress, M. S., and Brown, W. J. (2014). “Communicating Shared Experiences in Power Soccer: Exploring the First Competitive Team Sport for Electric Wheelchair Users. Paper presented to the National Communication Association at the 100th Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, November 20-23, 2014.
• Jeffress, M. S., Giguette, R., & Allen, R. A. (2014). Core meltdown: Assessing the state of the humanities in higher education. Workshop conducted for Nicholls State University’s Center for Advancing Faculty Engagement,Thibodaux, LA, March 26, 2014. 
• Jeffress, M. S., and Fraser, B. S.  (2013).  Fred B. Craddock’s contribution to preaching: The revolution of the inductive method.  Paper presented to the National Communication Association at the 99th Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C., November 21-24, 2013.
• Jeffress, M. S. (2013). “Finally a sport for us!”  Participant experiences in power soccer—the first competitive team sport for electric wheelchair users. Paper presented to the Louisiana Academy of Sciences at the 87th Annual Meeting. Grambling, LA, March 9, 2013.
• Jeffress, M. S. (2011). Empowered by power soccer: Improving the health and quality of life of electric wheelchair users through involvement in a competitive team sport. Paper presented the Disability Section of the American Public Health Association at the 139th Annual Meeting. Washington, D.C., October 29-November 2, 2011.
• Jeffress, M. S., and Clark, F. (2011).  Effective use of classroom technology as communication tool in lecture.  Presentation made at Nicholls State University’s Faculty Institute, Thibodaux, LA, August 11, 2011.
• Jeffress, M. S. (2008). Empowered by power soccer: Experiences of youth and young adults in the first sport for power wheelchair users. Paper presented to the Ethnography Division of the National Communication Association at the 94th Annual Meeting. San Diego, CA, November 21-24, 2008.
• Jeffress, M. S. (2008). A study of the demographics, exposure levels, and perceptions of Pastor Joel Osteen’s viewing audience. Paper presented to the Religious Communication Association Conference at the 94th Annual Meeting of the National Communication Association. San Diego, CA, November 21-24, 2008.
• Jeffress, M. S. (2008). Uses and effects of MySpace among Christian teens and young adults.  Paper presented to the Student Section of the National Communication Association at the 94th Annual Meeting. San Diego, CA, November 21-24, 2008.26. 
• Jeffress, M. S. (2008). The role of multimedia tools in preaching according to recent homiletics texts: Toward a healthy theology of preaching with multimedia tools. Paper presented to the Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Homiletics Society in Birmingham, AL, October 16-18, 2008.