Feb. 12, 2026–Dr. David McMahan, chair and professor in the Department of Communication at Missouri Western State University, has received the Leadership in Listening Award from the Global Listening Centre (GLC), a nonprofit organization headquartered in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) and London with a presence in over 140 countries.
The GLC promotes effective listening across education, healthcare, business and civic life, emphasizing that listening – especially in contexts where non-listening prevails – fosters deeper understanding, strengthens relationships, enhances critical awareness, and contributes to a better world.
As executive chair of the organization, Dr. McMahan has led numerous initiatives, including training sessions with the Cayman Islands government and the Global Listening Festival. He is currently collaborating with Lynette Louw, professor and deputy dean at Rhodes University in South Africa on the Thank You for Listening campaign.
Dr. McMahan joined the MoWest faculty in 2001 after receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Iowa. He has published more than ten books, including Internet Communication, Introduction to Communication Criticism, Relational Communication, The Basics of Communication, and the bestselling Communication in Everyday Life series. His extensive record of service includes president of the National Communication Association, president of the Central States Communication Association, editor of the Iowa Journal of Communication and consulting editor of the Journal of Communication Pedagogy, along with membership and activity on a vast number of academic committees, executive boards and editorial boards.
Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. MoWest is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit missouriwestern.edu.