Early Achievement Research and Creative Accomplishments Award

Dr. Melinda Aley

Assistant Professor, Communication, CLASS

Melinda Aley, PhD, is an assistant professor for the Department of Communication at Montana State University Billings. Dr. Aley has been a prolific researcher and an innovative instructor since joining the Department of Communication in the Summer of 2021.

Her research impact is highlighted by 19 peer-reviewed journal articles and one book chapter since the start of her academic career. She teaches courses in organizational communication, covering topics from leadership communication to work-life balance. Her research focused on the socializing messages an individual receives throughout childhood and adolescence and how these messages impact identity development. Her current projects include examining the career decision-making process of first-generation college students, morality in children’s media content, and parents’ attitudes toward book banning.