William T. Howe

Biography

William T. Howe is an Associate Professor and Graduate Director at Texas Tech University specializing in organizational communication. His research focuses on high-reliability organizations, military and veteran communication, and identity in complex systems. His work has been widely published, and he is active in national leadership and editorial roles within the discipline.

Research

William T. Howe is an Associate Professor and Graduate Director in the Department of Communication Studies at Texas Tech University. His research and teaching focus on organizational communication, with particular emphasis on high-reliability organizing, military and veteran communication, and identity in complex institutional environments.

Dr. Howe's scholarship examines how individuals and organizations communicate under conditions of risk, uncertainty, and transition. Much of his work centers on military and veteran populations, exploring issues such as reintegration, identity negotiation, communication challenges across institutional contexts, and relationships between military and civilian systems. His research has also addressed digital communication, workplace technologies, organizational culture, and communication in high-stakes environments such as forecasting teams and crisis contexts. His work has appeared in leading journals including Management Communication Quarterly, Journal of Applied Communication Research, International Journal of Communication, and Small Group Research.

In addition to a robust publication record, Dr. Howe has secured and contributed to funded research initiatives. His research has been recognized with multiple top paper awards from the National Communication Association and other professional organizations.

Dr. Howe is an active leader in the field of communication studies. He currently serves as Vice Chair of the Communication and Military Division of the National Communication Association and sits on several editorial boards, including Management Communication Quarterly and SAGE Open. He regularly presents his research at national and international conferences and contributes to interdisciplinary collaborations focused on communication, risk, and organizational effectiveness.

At Texas Tech, Dr. Howe teaches courses in organizational communication, leadership, small group communication, and conflict management at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Known for his engaging, applied teaching style, he emphasizes connecting theory to practice and preparing students for professional success. As Graduate Director, he is deeply committed to mentoring graduate students and supporting their development as scholars and professionals.

Before entering academia, Dr. Howe served as a combat medic in the United States Army, an experience that continues to inform his research and teaching, particularly in understanding communication within high-stakes, hierarchical, and mission-driven organizations.

Dr. Howe earned his Ph.D. in Organizational Communication from the University of Oklahoma, his M.S. from Texas Christian University, and his B.S. in Communication Studies from Texas Christian University.

Research Areas

• Military & Veterans
• Corporate & Organizational
• Crisis
• Science

Selected Publications

• Howe, W. T. (Editor; Forthcoming). Communicative approaches to military and veteran reintegration. IGI Global.
• Howe, W. T. & Wilson, S. (2024). Military exit and reentry to family, society, and work. In V. Miller & M. S. Poole (Eds.) Handbook of Organizational Communication Theory and Research. DeGruyter.
• Howe, W. T. & Hartsough, L. L. (2024). Military service members and romantic relationships: Identity gaps, mindfulness, and relational quality. International Journal of Communication. Online first.
• Howe, W. T. & Bisel, R. S. (2023). Veteran contempt for civilian communication (VCCC) scale: Development and validation. Management Communication Quarterly. https://doi.org/10.1177/08933189231186149
• Scott, A. L., Howe, W. T., & Bisel, R. S. (2022). High reliability team (HRT) scholarship: A systematic review and research agenda. Small Group Research.
• Howe, W. T. (2022). Existing in higher education as a United States Veteran: Challenges and opportunities. Journal of Veteran Studies, 8 (2). 1-9. Existing in higher education as a United States Veteran: Challenges and opportunities. Journal of Veteran Studies, 8 (2). 1-9.
• Roeder, A. C., Bisel, R. S., & Howe, W. T. (2021). High reliability organizing and communication during naturalistic decision making: National Weather Service (NWS) forecasting teams' use of "floating". Journal of Applied Communication Research, 49(4), 441-459. High-reliability organizing and communication during naturalistic decision making: U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) forecasting teams’ use of ‘floating’: Journal of Applied Communication Research: Vol 49, No 4 (tandfonline.com)
• Howe, W. T. & Bisel R. S. (2020). Third-party online organizational reviews: Explaining review-and-rating patterns of the United States Military and large corporate organizations. Computers in Human Behavior Reports, 1, 1-8. Third-party online organizational reviews: Explaining review-and-rating patterns of the United States military and large corporate organizations - ScienceDirect

Leadership & Awards

• Integrated Scholar Award - Texas Tech University - 2026
• Dennis Gouran Research Award: Group Division - NCA - 2025
• Top Paper Panel: Comm and Military Division - NCA - 2025
• Top Paper Panel: Peace & Conflict Division - NCA - 2025
• Officer of Communication and Military Division
• Top Four Paper: Comm and Military Division - NCA - 2023
• Top Four Paper: Group Communication Division - NCA - 2023
• Top Four Paper: Comm and Military Division - NCA - 2021
• Best of the B.E.S.T. - ICA - Organizational Communication - 2020
• Stanley L. Saxton Applied Research Award - Carl Couch Center for Social and Internet Research - 2019

Teaching

• Organizational Communication
• Military & Vetetran Communication
• Conflict Resolution and Problem Solving
• Introduction to Graduate Studies
• Qualitative Methods
• Quantitative Methods