06/26/2025

CSCA 2026 Convention - Interpersonal and Family Communication Interest Group Call for Submissions

Interpersonal and Family Communication Interest Group
Call for Papers and Panels

Central States Communication Association
Annual Convention – Minneapolis, MN
April 14-19, 2026

Translate!

The Interpersonal and Family Communication Interest Group invites submissions, of competitive papers, panels, roundtable discussions, and innovative programming for the 2026 CSCA convention in Minneapolis, MN. Our interest group focuses on interpersonal and family communication relating to theoretical, empirical, community engagement, methodological, and pedagogical issues. We welcome a wide range of topics encompassing the research and teaching of interpersonal and family communication. We especially encourage submissions that address the 2026 conference theme, Translate! This conference theme is a call to consider how we can communicate what we know to people outside of the academy walls.

PAPERS

The Interpersonal and Family Communication Interest Group only accepts completed papers. Authors must remove their names and any identifying information before submission. Papers also must conform to the most current APA standards (7^th edition) and include a title and a 100-word abstract. Papers may not exceed 25 pages, excluding title, abstract, references, and appendices. Papers exceeding the maximum page limit will not be considered for review.

Graduate and undergraduate students should type “STUDENT” in the upper right-hand corner of the title page. 

If the paper will be a debut by a graduate student, please type “DEBUT STUDENT” on the upper right-hand corner of the title page. Debut papers are only those in which, (a) the author is a graduate student, (b) the paper has a single author (i.e., the student), and (c) the paper will be the author’s first paper presentation at CSCA. Indicate if the author(s) are CSCA members.

PANELS

Discussion and paper panel submissions must include the following: (a) title, (b) description (100 words or less), (c) rationale (100 words or less), and (d) a complete list of participants along with their institutional affiliations, contact information (e-mail), and whether they are CSCA Members. Panels must have a chair. Paper panels should also include titles and brief abstracts (100 words or less) for each paper. Preference will be given to those with panelists representing multiple institutions rather than representing a single institution. 

SUBMISSION DETAILS

Submitters must make all technology and scheduling requests at the time of submission. Submit all papers and panels electronically through our CSCA online submission system site.

**You must create an account in the submission system, this account is separate from your CSCA account. You must have an account in the submission system to submit and serve as a reviewer for any interest group. Please have each of the co-authors/panelists create a profile on the submission website. Membership is not required to create a profile. 

MEDIA REQUESTS

Submitters must make all technology requests at the time of submission. Please only request media if it is essential to your presentation, as media requests will be closely examined before approval. Laptop computers will not be made available for presentations.

SUBMISSIONS 

Submissions must be received by 11:59 PM, CDT, October 10, 2025.

AWARDS

The Interpersonal and Family Communication Interest Group presents two named awards. The Nancy Burrell Award is presented to the author(s) of the Top Student Paper submitted to the Interpersonal and Family Communication Interest Group. At the annual convention, the recipient receives a cash award and a certificate. The Dawn O. Braithwaite Award for Qualitative Research will be presented to the author(s) of the Top Qualitative Paper submitted to the Interpersonal and Family Communication Interest Group. At the annual convention, the recipient receives a cash award and a certificate. Of note, the Dawn O. Braithwaite Award cannot be awarded to the Top Paper or the Top Student Paper.

The Inclusive Scholarship Award is sponsored by the CSCA Equity & Inclusion Committee (EIC). Its purpose is to highlight the most promising work by scholars in the areas of equity and inclusion. At the annual Awards and Business Luncheon, a plaque will be presented to the scholar(s) whose paper was chosen as the Top Inclusive Scholarship Paper. The remaining top papers (not exceeding 4) will be awarded certificates at the EIC-sponsored Inclusive Scholarship paper panel. The papers will be delivered both during the programming of the respective interest groups and caucuses to which they were submitted and during the EIC-sponsored paper panel. To be eligible for the Inclusive Scholarship Award, the paper must clearly articulate, in at least one paragraph in the abstract, how the respective scholarship explicitly addresses equity and inclusion. 

WANT TO BE MORE INVOLVED IN CSCA?

The Interpersonal and Family Communication Interest Group is always in need of volunteers to serve as Panel Chairs during the convention. If you will be at the convention and would like to volunteer, please contact the IFCIG program planner, Dr. Natalie Pennington (natalie.pennington@colostate.edu), with your contact information and availability. 

The interest group will also send out a call for Officer Nominations for members to serve the interest group closer to the date of the convention. 

QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS? 

For questions, comments, or concerns, please contact the program planner, Dr. Natalie Pennington (natalie.pennington@colostate.edu).