The Tom and Anne Pearce Communication Center was established in 1998 with a gift to Columbia College from Roy and Marnie Pearce of Columbia. Mr. Pearce was an executive with PYA Monarch food brokers. The Center is named in honor of his parents.

The Pearce Center is dedicated to advancing written and oral communication skills among students and faculty. Activities of the Center address three significant areas: communication across the curriculum, communication in business and industry, and communication skills among students in grades K-12.

The Center works primarily toward the goal of ensuring that Columbia College students graduate with the written and oral communication skills necessary to contribute meaningfully to their chosen fields of employment.

In addition, the Center encourages faculty to include written and oral components in all courses, trains faculty to develop and evaluate effective oral and written communication assignments, and provides support to students as they complete those assignments. The Center also plans to expand its mission to the community, reaching out to local school systems and developing ties with area businesses.

Dr. Nancy Tuten, professor of English, is director of written communication, and Kyle Love, associate professor of communication, is director of oral communication.

Pearce Oral Communication Speaking
and Listening Laboratory

The Pearce Oral Communication Speaking and Listening Laboratory opened in January 2001 as part of the Pearce Communication Center.

Located in Cottingham Theatre, the lab provides students with the opportunity to perfect their public speaking skills before presenting speeches in class or in formal settings. Students receive one-on-one coaching in the lab and are able to view and critique video of their presentations. Faculty may also use the lab for technical support.

Pearce Writing Fellow Program

Through the Pearce Writing Fellow Program, selected Columbia College faculty from all academic disciplines are encouraged to incorporate written and oral assignments into their teaching.

The Pearce Writing Fellows work collaboratively with Dr. Nancy Tuten, professor of English and Pearce Center director for written communication, to design and implement writing assignments in selected courses.