Keynote Speakers
Laura L. Lemon, Ph.D. is an expert and presenter in the field of public relations who specializes in qualitative methods. Her award-winning research agenda focuses on theory building in internal public relations, with emphasis on internal communication and employee engagement. Her peer-reviewed publications can be found in top journals such as Journal of Public Relations Research, Public Relations Review, Public Relations Inquiry, Qualitative Market Research: An International Journal, The Qualitative Report, and Journal of Communication Management. Most recently, she published a book, Mindful Qualitative Researchers, as part of Sage’s Qualitative Research Methods Series. Dr. Lemon spent over seven years as a professional in the private sector assisting organizations with effective public relations initiatives. A passionate and dedicated teacher, Dr. Lemon is a scholar whose research techniques and professional experience support her expertise. She is currently a tenured, associate professor at The University of Alabama in the Department of Advertising and Public Relations and the director of the Internal Communication Engagement Initiative under the Institute for Communication and Information Research at UA. Dr. Lemon completed her Ph.D. in Communication and Information with a public relations focus from the University of Tennessee. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communication from Pepperdine University and was conferred a Master’s in Communication from the University of Colorado, Denver. To learn more, visit www.lauraloulemon.com.
Gail Simon, DProf, is a queer cis trans-affirmative woman working as a systemic social constructionist therapist, essayist, methodologist and researcher. Her practice home is The Pink Practice a queer therapy service she co-founded in 1990. She is Lead Editor for Murmurations: Journal of Transformative Systemic Practice and co-director of Everything is Connected Press CIC. Gail runs writing seminars and decolonising systemic practice reading seminars. Gail has been an early adopter of technology for computer graphics, internet technologies and VR which connects to her interest in data.