Ph.D., (University of Iowa); M.A. (University of Illinois at Chicago), BA (Loyola University Chicago) 

ODU University Professor, Professor of Communication, Graduate Program Director

Department of Communication & Theatre, Old Dominion University, Virginia Beach Higher Education Center, Room 205, 1881 University Drive, Virginia Beach, VA. 23453

 Curriculum Vita 

Information about ODU's MA in Lifespan and Digital Communication Information  

Current Activities/Achievements

• ODU Faculty Advisor of the Year (2012)
• National Academic Advising Association (Mid-Altlantic Region): Faculty Advisor of the Year Winner (2012)
• National Academic Advising Association (National): Outstanding Advising Certificate of Merit- Faculty Advising (2012)
• Editor, New Book Series--Lifespan Communication: Children, Families, and Aging for Peter Lang International Publishers (2012)
• Graduate Program Director, MA in Lifespan and Digital Communication (2011-)
• Editorial Board Member, Southern Communication Journal
• Editorial Board Member, Communication Research Reports
• Co-Author with Julie Yingling (Emerita, Humboldt University) Families Communicating with Children (Socha & Yingling, 2010, Polity Press, Cambridge,UK., available at Wiley-Blackwell)
• Co-Editor with Margaret Pitts (ODU, U of Arizona),The Positive Side of Interpersonal Communication (Socha & Pitts, forthcoming, 2012,  New York & Bern, Switzerland: Peter Lang) 
• Co-Editor with Margaret Pitts (ODU, U of Arizona), Positive Communication in Health & Wellness  (Pitts & Socha, forthcoming, late 2012,  New York & Bern, Switzerland: Peter Lang)
• Board Member, Speech Communication Praxis II Exam Advisory Board (ETS, Princeton, NJ.) 
• Board of Directors Member, Virginia Beach Forum

Selected Accomplishments

• Founding Editor of the Journal of Family Communication, a national research journal (1999-2005)
• National Communication Association's, Bernard J. Brommel Award for Outstanding Scholarship and Distinguished Service in Family Communication.
• Robert L. Stern Award for Excellence in Teaching (from ODU's College of Arts & Letters);
• Named one of ODU's first "University Professors" for distinguished teaching
• Twice nominated by ODU for the State Council of Higher Education in Virginia's Outstanding faculty award
• Recipient of three "Most Inspirational Faculty Awards" from ODU honor students
• Three "top-three" paper awards at national and regional conferences
• July/August, 2008. Taught a faculty development course, "A Positive Perspective on Family Communication" at the National Communication Association's Institute for Faculty Development, Randolph-Macon College (Ashland, VA.) Click here for details