Angela M. Corbo

Angela M. Corbo, PhD

  • Chair of Communication Studies
  • Professor
Media Expertise:
  • Gender & Sexuality
  • Communications & Marketing
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Affiliated Programs

Education

  • PhD, Educational Leadership/Small Group Dynamics (2004)
    University of Pennsylvania (PA)
  • MSEd, Higher Education Administration (1992)
    University of Pennsylvania (PA)
  • BA, English/Communication (1990)
    Cabrini University (PA)

About Me

As a faculty member, I challenge myself to promote a passion for learning and self-discovery in my students. I bring an interdisciplinary background of communication, group dynamics, leadership, and gender studies into each class.

I empower students to see themselves and others in the course material. Inevitably, if students can understand themselves in relation to the course content, they can begin to understand the implications of the material for the world around them. Furthermore, I challenge students to gain the confidence to improve their verbal, non-verbal, and written communication skills. 

Clarity and parallelism in the communication process will benefit students in all academic, personal, and professional endeavors. As an advocate of experiential learning, I have been a faculty fellow in Widener's service learning program since 2011.

Research Interests

An active and ongoing research agenda perpetuates knowledge that is meaningful to society and memorable to students in the classroom. My research focuses on communication pedagogy, ethical journalistic reporting in cases of suicide, emotional intelligence, gendered communication, and interactive interdisciplinary research. The topics of research are connected by interpersonal communication theories and application.

Media Expertise

  • Social media ethics
  • Contemporary media ethics
  • The media's relationship with America's health issues
  • Gender roles and gender portrayal in the media

Publications

  • Corbo, A.M., & Zweifel, K. (2013). Sensationalism or sensitivity: Reporting suicide cases in the news media. Studies in Communication Sciences, 13(1), 67–74.
  • Edwards, L., Corbo, A.M., & Kontostathis, A. (2013). Sex stings, suicide, and scandal in Murphy, Texas: Dateline's To Catch a Predator. In M. Land, K. Fuse, & B. Hornaday (Eds.), Contemporary media ethics: A practical guide for students, scholars and professionals in the globalized world (2nd ed.). Spokane, Washington: Marquette Books LLC.
  • Corbo, A.M., Leckrone, J.W., & Sullivan, T. (2014, June). Expanding civic engagement from interdisciplinary collaboration to multi-university consortium. Presentation at The New American Colleges & Universities, Redlands, CA.

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

National Communication Association (NCA), Eastern Communication Association (ECA), Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)

Awards

  • Campus Organization Advisor of the Year (2014)

News

In the Media

Noteworthy

  • Widener Commends Faculty at 2023 Awards Event

    Widener honored faculty members for their high distinction in areas of civic engagement, institutional leadership, research, as well as innovative and distinguished teaching. Various faculty were awarded at the ceremony, held Thursday, October 19 in Lathem Hall.

    “The professors who were honored at our annual awards ceremony continuously display commitment to teaching, civic engagement, meaningful research, remarkable leadership, and cutting-edge innovation. They are highly valued colleagues and represent core values for which Widener stands," said Provost Andrew Workman. 

    The awards included:

    • The Distinguished University Professor Award honors faculty members of high distinction at the University who also demonstrate the institution is committed to recognizing excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service throughout faculty members’ careers. This year's recipients were College of Health and Human Services Professor, Stephen E. Kauffman as well as College of Arts and Sciences Professor, Alexis A. Nagengast.
    • College of Arts and Sciences Professor Dana Olanoff was awarded with the Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award. This award is given to a faculty member who has exemplified a history of teaching at the highest level of distinction. It is endowed by the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation, a Philadelphia-based foundation that provides grants to institutions of higher education for the promotion of excellence in teaching.
    • The Faculty Award for Civic Engagement serves to recognize the outstanding contributions that faculty members have made in accordance with Widener’s civic engagement mission, as well as solidifying Widener students’ understanding of their social responsibilities, and the impact of their disciplinary learning. This year's recipients included faculty from the College of Arts and Sciences: Associate Professor Angela M. Corbo, Professor J. Wesley Leckrone, and Associate Dean of Social Science and Professor James E. Vike.
    • College of Arts and Sciences Associate Professor Michael Toneff was awarded the Outstanding Researcher Award. This award gives recognition to a faculty member who has participated in research and scholarship nationally or internationally, and made a significant contribution through their research, while advancing their profession or discipline as well as the university’s mission and vision.
    • The Fitz Dixon Innovation in Teaching Award highlights an individual who has designed, implemented, and assessed an innovative or experimental teaching and learning project. This award was presented to College of Arts and Sciences Associate Professor Janice Krumm.
    • The Faculty Institutional Leadership Award recognizes a record of leading initiatives that further the university’s vision, mission, and strategic objectives. This year’s award recipients were College of Health and Human Services Associate Professor Marina Barnett, who is also interim assistant provost for civic engagement, and College of Arts and Sciences Associate Professor Bretton Alvare.

      Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/widener-commends-faculty-2023-awards-event
  • Professor Recognized for Institutional Leadership

    Associate Professor Angie Corbo, chair of the Communication Studies program, received the Institutional Leadership Award at Widener’s 2022 faculty awards program.

    The award is given annually to a faculty member who has a history of leading university initiatives that further Widener’s vision, mission and strategic objectives. 

    Corbo has served her college and the university in leadership roles in faculty governance. She currently serves as faculty chair, and has served on the crisis management team’s academic consulting team. She is part of the High Impact Practice Fair committee, chairs the Breathe Board, and serves on the provost’s Mental Health Task Force.

    Corbo is an engaged leader in the campus community, serving as the Summer Undergraduate Research and Creative activities program co-director since 2014. As a co-instructor of Contemporary Issues in Political Engagement, she empowered students to interview political candidates and lobby elected offices to be cognizant of the impact of college student debt. 

    Story link: https://www.widener.edu/node/27641