October 2026 In-Person Lunchtime Lecture

Join us in-person at the Etter-Harbin Alumni Center for our October Lunchtime Lecture with Dr. Dawna Ballard. Join us in-person for our October Lunchtime Lecture - “Slowing Down to Speed Things Up” In a culture that constantly pushes us to move faster, we often assume that speed leads to better results. But whether in organizations, communities, friendships, or families, rushing can actually create confusion and disconnect. Drawing from her book Time by Design, Dr. Dawna Ballard explores how slowing down communication—to build clarity, trust, and stronger relationships—can ultimately help groups work, connect, and live more effectively together. Please note: Our October Lunchtime Lecture will be hosted in-person at the Etter-Harbin Alumni Center. Tickets are $30 for Texas Exes members, $40 for nonmembers and include a catered lunch. Registration closes at midnight on Wednesday, October 14. We are unable to offer refunds within 7 days of the event. Meet the Guest Speaker: Dr. Dawna Ballard Associate Professor, Department of Communication Studies, Moody College of Communication Ballard is an associate professor of organizational communication and technology at The University of Texas at Austin whose research explores chronemics—the study of time as it relates to human communication—and how our pace of life shapes organizations, communities, and individual well-being. A graduate of University of California, Santa Barbara, Ballard is the author of Time by Design: How Communicating Slow Allows Us to Go Fast (MIT Press, 2025), which introduces the concept of “chronemic design” and examines how relationships and communication practices can improve effectiveness and long-term vitality. Her award-winning research focuses on engaged scholarship that creates practical impact, and her work has appeared in outlets including The New York Times, Time, The Atlantic, Fortune, Forbes, and Inc., as well as forums such as SXSW and CreativeMornings. Ballard also serves as a Public Voices Fellow, a research collaborator with the Mayo Clinic’s Knowledge & Evaluation Research Unit, and a board member for Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas. At UT, she co-directs the internship program and teaches courses on chronemics, group communication, and teams and communities, earning multiple honors for her teaching and mentorship, including the 2024 President’s Associates Graduate Teaching Excellence Award and the 2023 Blunk Professorship.