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Steven Levitt, Ph.D.

Professor, Communication

Steven Levitt, Ph.D.

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Bio

Steven Levitt, Professor, Department of Communication, received his B.A. from Montana State University, his M.A. from West Virginia, and his Ph.D. from The Ohio State University. He taught in the Telecommunications Department at the University of Kentucky before coming to UTSA in the fall of 1991 to create a new degree program in Communication. He served as head of the program from 1997 – 2001 at which time Communication became a stand-alone department. He then served as Chair until Aug. 2010. He is currently serving as Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies in the College of Liberal and Fine Arts. Dr. Levitt teaches Conflict Resolution & Mediation, Public Relations, and Research Methods.

Dr. Levitt’s current research project is understanding dynamics of international organizational teamwork.

“Cultural factors affecting international teamwork dynamics” was published in The International Journal of Knowledge, Culture, and Change in Organizations: Annual Review, Volume 13 (2014), 9-23. The article was the winner of the International Award for Excellence for Volume 13 of the Organization Collection, 2015. All articles submitted for publication in the Organization Collection are entered into consideration for this award – four quarterly journals and the annual. "Cultural dialectics in international teamwork dynamics” was published (2016) in the International Journal of Business Communication.

“Addressing cross-cultural teamwork barriers: Implications for industry practice and higher education curricula,” was presented at the Ninth International Conference on New Horizons in Industry, Business and Education in August 2015, on the Skiathos Island, Greece. The paper was one of only three papers selected from the conference to be published in Industry and Higher Education, October 2016.

Dr. Levitt has presented numerous workshops on conflict resolution and gender communication, and is certified in conflict resolution and mediation. Dr. Levitt served as a trainer and University Liaison for the award winning UTSA Problem Solving/Conflict Resolution Program. Dr. Levitt is also very active in many other areas of University service, and was honored with the 2000 President’s Distinguished Achievement Award for University Service.

Teaching

  • COM 3523 Public Relations
  • COM 3073 Conduct Communication Inquiry
  • COM 4813 Theory & Practice: Social Interaction/Conflict Mediation
  • COM 4813 Theory & Practice: Social Interaction/International Teamwork Dynamics

Research Interests

  • Organizational Communication
  • International Teamwork Dynamics

Degrees

  • Ph.D. in Communication, The Ohio State University (1988)
  • M.A. in Speech Communication, West Virginia University (1983)
  • B.A. in Speech Communication, Montana State University (1982)

Honors and Awards

Presentations

Grants, Patents and Clinical Trials

Publications

  • Levitt, S. R. (2022). Intercultural competence in international teamwork: Understanding high- and low-context communication styles. Communication and Media in Asia Pacific, 5(1), 1-13.  Lead article.
  • Levitt, S. R. (2021).  The diversity with unity dialectic in international teamwork:  Cultural identity, communication styles and intercultural competence. Paper presented at the 5th Cross-Cultural Communication Conference (virtual), September 23.
  • Levitt, S. R. (2019). Cultural dialectics in international teamwork dynamics.  International Journal of Business Communication, 56(3), 326-348.
  • Levitt, S. R. (2016). Addressing cross-cultural teamwork barriers: Implications for industry practice and higher education curricula. Industry and Higher Education, 30(5), 315-320.
  • Levitt, S. R. (2016).  Cultural dialectics in international teamwork dynamics.  International Journal of Business Communication. Epub ahead of print 28 January 2016. DOI: 10.1177/ 2329488416629094.
  • Levitt, S. R. (2016). Addressing cross-cultural teamwork barriers: Implications for industry practice and higher education curricula.  Industry and Higher Education, 30(5), 315-320.
  • Levitt, S. R. (2014). Cultural factors affecting international teamwork dynamics.  The International Journal of Knowledge, Culture, and Change in Organizations:  Annual Review, Volume 13, 9-23.  Winner, International Excellence Award.
  • Levitt, S. R. (2014). Cultural factors affecting international teamwork dynamics.  The International Journal of Knowledge, Culture, and Change in Organizations:  Annual Review, Volume 13, 9-23. 
  • Levitt, S. R. (2015).  Cultural factors affecting international teamwork dynamics.  The International Journal of Knowledge, Culture, and Change in Organizations:  Annual Review, Volume 13, 9-23.  Winner, International Excellence Award.
  • Kanso, A. M., Levitt, S. R. & Nelson, R. A. (2010). Public Relations and Reputation Management in a Crisis Situation: How Denny’s Restaurants Reinvigorated the Firm’s Corporate Identity. In W. T. Combs (Ed.). Handbook of Crisis Communication. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell.
  • Nelson, R. A., Kanso, A. M., & Levitt, S. R. (2007). Integrating public service and marketing differentiation: An analysis of the American Express Corporation’s “Charge Against Hunger” promotion campaign. Service Business, 1(4), 275-293.
  • Johnston Polacek, G. N. L., Rojas, V., Levitt, S., & Mika, V. (2006). Media and sex: Perspectives from Hispanic teens. American Journal of Sexuality Education, 1(4), 51-69.

Other recent publications include Kanso, A., Levitt, S., & Nelson, R. (2009) book chapter in Handbook of Crisis Communication: “Public relations and reputation management in a crisis situation: how Denny’s restaurants reinvigorated the firm’s corporate identity”; Nelson, R. A., Kanso, A. M., & Levitt, S. R. (2007). “Integrating public service and marketing differentiation: an analysis of the American Express Corporation’s "Charge Against Hunger" promotion program.” Service Business, 1(4), 275-293; and Johnston-Polacek, G. N. L., Rojas, V., Levitt, S., & Mika, V. (2006). Media and sex: Perspectives from Hispanic teens. American Journal of Sexuality Education, 1(4), 51-69. In September 2001, he won the best paper award for "Improving the Critical Communication and Decision-Making Interface Between Managers and Engineers" at the 2nd International Conference, New Horizons in Industry and Education, Milos Island, Greece. This paper was published in the October 2002 issue of Industry and Higher Education.