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The ability to speak and write in a clear, organized, and effective way is a central part of the liberal arts education at Hamilton College. The Oral Communication Center’s mission is to support the development of students’ speaking abilities.
Through peer tutoring, the OCC assists students on a variety of types of communication assignments. Additionally, the OCC provides support for faculty developing speaking assignments, and hosts several public speaking competitions each year and other events centered on oral communication.

Amy Gaffney, Ph.D.

Oral Communication Center Director

algaffne@hamilton.edu

315-859-4063

As Director, Amy Gaffney’s responsibilities include wrangling peer consultants for the OCC’s tutoring program, working with faculty and courses on speaking assignments, and pulling together a variety of activities on campus including two speaking competitions. She teaches a course on genres of oral communication each fall. Amy has directed the OCC since 2016. Amy’s scholarship focuses on the role communication plays in the classroom as well as ways to teach communication. She co-authored “Oral Communication in the Disciplines” and has consulted with departments and institutions looking to increase their curricular attention to oral communication. She was happy to return to her roots at a small, liberal arts institution like her alma mater, Bethany College (WV). She has taught a variety of communication courses to Golden Flashes (Kent State University, M.A. in Communication Studies), the Wolfpack (North Carolina State University, Ph.D. in Communication, Rhetoric, and Digital Media), and Wildcats (University of Kentucky faculty member). When not in the OCC, Amy can usually be found creating awesome race tracks with her older son or doing puzzles with her toddler.

Corrin Rosenstein

Office Assistant

Student Assistants

Bri Padilla ’25

Bri is a sophomore from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She is majoring in biology with a minor in studio art. On campus, she is the Match Secretary for the Womens Rugby Team. She is also part of ROOTS and works at the Mail Center. When she’s not in the OCC, you can find Bri researching in lab, painting, playing rugby or watching Big Brother.

Olivia Dashefsky ’24

she/her

Olivia is a psychology major and intended music minor from Arlington, Virginia. She loves playing the piano, hiking, and hanging out with friends.

Regina Lin ’24

she/her

Regina is a junior from Utica, NY, majoring in Chinese with a double minor in Economics and Africana Studies. She likes to watch documentaries to pass time and on days when she can slack off on school work, she likes to cook with friends and avoid washing dishes ;)

History

The Oral Communication Center has its roots in the College’s focus on developing excellent communicators. The Center was created in 2002 and has served countless Hamilton students since then. 

Contact

Office / Department Name

Oral Communication Center

Contact Name

Amy Gaffney

Oral Communication Center Director

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