MCKEESPORT, Pa. — Michael Vicaro, associate professor of communications at Penn State Greater Allegheny, has co-authored “Communication Theory at the Crossroads,” published by Wiley-Blackwell in January 2025.
Vicaro collaborated with Stanley Deetz and Gary P. Radford on the 352-page volume, which introduces a new framework for understanding how people communicate in a rapidly changing, technology-driven world.
The book positions students as active participants in communication, equipping them with theory-based tools to navigate social challenges such as divisiveness, interdependence, and technology-mediated human experience. Through the lens of relational constructionism, the authors identify limitations of current theories, explore critical choices for students and scholars, and present new approaches to human interaction.
Vicaro, who joined Penn State in 2012, has taught in higher education for more than 20 years. His areas of expertise include the philosophy of communication and classical and contemporary rhetorical theory. He also directs the Penn State Greater Allegheny campus’ Multidisciplinary Studies program.
The book is intended for mid-level undergraduate courses in communication theory and human communication. For more information on “Communication Theory at the Crossroads,” visit Wiley-Blackwell’s website.