Supna Jain

Supna C. Jain, J.D. is an educator, scholar, and community leader passionate about teaching, mentoring, and fostering inclusive learning spaces. With nearly 20 years of experience in higher education, including over a decade at North Central College, she currently serves as a Principal Lecturer in Communication and Media Studies and as Faculty Director for the Center for the Advancement of Faculty Excellence (CAFÉ). She also directs the campus Speaking Center and coordinates First-Year Speaking, supporting students as they build communication confidence and find their voices early in their college experience. As a former Provost Faculty Fellow, Supna explored ways to help students connect classroom learning with real-world career skills. She has been honored to receive recognition for her teaching and mentoring, which reflect her ongoing commitment to supporting student growth and development.

Supna’s research focuses on interpersonal relationships in organizational and intercultural contexts, with particular attention to the intersections of gender, law, and culture. Her work with victims of domestic violence and her frequent trips to India inform her interest in the social and legal issues affecting women. She spent five years with a Chicago litigation support firm, contributing to high-profile cases such as Verizon v. Vonage and U.S. v. George Ryan, which deepened her interest in the synthesis, argumentation, and visual presentation of complex concepts. More recent scholarship explores the influence of language on sexual assault conviction rates and the identity management challenges faced by South Asian women in marriage. Beyond academia, Supna serves as Vice President of the Board of Education for Indian Prairie School District 204. In her spare time, she enjoys teaching Indian dance at the Naperville Park District and is the Founder and Artistic Director of a Chicago-based nonprofit dance troupe.

Selected Scholarship

Research:

• Berkland, M. K., Buxbaum, A. G., & Jain, S. C. (2024). Fostering intercultural understanding for the global
  business professional. In Intercultural Communication for the Global Business Professional (pp. 3–18). Routledge.
• Berkland, M. K., Ji, Y., & Jain, S. C. (2022). Labels and the adjudication of rape: words matter. Sexuality & Culture,
  26(5), 1579-1598.
• Berkland, M. K., & Jain, S. C. (2018). Hollow Bahu: Indian daughter-in-law. In J. Manning & J. Dunn (Eds.),
  Transgressing Feminist Theory and Discourse: Advancing Conversations Across Disciplines, pp. 151-164. New
  York, NY: Routledge.

Presentations:

• Berkland, M. K., & Jain, S. C. (2023.). #MeToo: Rape Myths and Social Change. A Vision of One Humanity and One
  Planet as the Theoretical Framework for Worldwide Social Justice. University of Sassari in Italy: University of
  Sassari & Benedictine University of Lisle.
• Jain, S. C., & Berkland, M. K., (2020, April). Meaning and Power in the Bahū Title: The Maintenance of Patriarchy.
  Central States Communication Association 2020 Annual Conference Borders and Breakthroughs. Rosemont, IL:
  Central States Communication Association.
• Jain, S., Berkland, M. K., & Chod, S. (2019). Who Wore it Best? Victims of Accusations Vs. Victims of Assault:
  Perceptions of Justice for Accused and Accusers in cases of Sexual Assault. Organization for the Study of
  Communication, Language and Gender 2019 Annual Conference Masculinity. Organization for the Study of
  Communication, Language and Gender.
• Jain, S.C., & Cupach, W. (2012, November). Achieving Work-Family Balance When Perpetually On-call: Social
  Support As A Buffer Against Work-Family Conflict. Organizational Communication Division, National
  Communication Association. Orlando, FL: National Communication Association.
• Jain, S.C., Doman, C., & Notarstefano, R. (2011, April). Nonverbal Behavior of College Students: An Analysis of
  Student Self Perception and Instructor Perception of Student Nonverbal Involvement and Academic Performance.
  Nonverbal Communication Division, Central States Communication Association. Milwaukee, WI: Central States
  Communication Association.
  
   

Courses Taught

Introduction to Public Speaking (CARD 102/COMM 110)

Interpersonal Communication (COMM 200)

Group Interaction (COMM 214)

Intercultural Communication (COMM 317)

Cardinal Careers (CARD 250)