Dr. Curtis Newbold Publishes New Textbook

The Department of Communication is incredibly proud to celebrate the accomplishments of Dr. Curtis Newbold, Clinical Associate Professor of Strategic Communication, who has recently published his first textbook, Business and Professional Communication: A Human-Centered Approach. Dr. Newbold, an award-winning corporate consultant with extensive experience in strategic communication, has dedicated his career to advancing the practice of communication through both research and real-world application. With a strong academic background, including a PhD in Rhetorics, Communication, and Information Design from Clemson University, as well as BS and MA degrees in English and Professional Communication from Utah State University, Dr. Newbold’s expertise spans a wide range of communication fields, including information design, business communication, and public relations.

In his new textbook, co-authored with Dr. Jessie Lynn Richards from the Eccles School of Business, Dr. Newbold draws on his extensive experience teaching in the college setting and delivering over 200 live trainings, webinars, and workshops for multinational companies and government organizations. This real-world experience informs the book’s central premise: that effective business communication is not simply about sending emails or making presentations, but is a human-centered process that requires deep understanding of context, audience, and medium. The textbook offers a holistic approach to communication, emphasizing community, accessibility, and ethics in ways that align with the evolving demands of today’s diverse and dynamic workplace, which is increasingly shaped by remote and hybrid work environments.

Dr. Newbold’s remarkable career has also taken him across the globe, teaching and leading strategic communication projects in the U.S., China, and South Korea, as well as guiding graduate students on projects for non-profit organizations in countries such as Peru, South Africa, Cambodia, and Iceland. His dedication to education and communication extends beyond the classroom, and his textbook is another testament to his commitment to shaping the next generation of thoughtful, ethical communicators. At the University of Utah, we are proud to support Dr. Newbold in his mission to empower students with the skills they need to succeed in an interconnected world, making his contribution to both the academic community and the professional world a lasting one.