Profile

Biography

Heather Walters, J.D. is a Senior Instructor in the Department of Communication, Media, Journalism and Film. She earned her law degree at the University of Maryland. Her scholarship concerns the intersection of emerging technology, law & ethics, and culture. She is also the Director of Speech and Debate at Greenwood Laboratory School. She is the author of four books, including Current Issues in Emerging Technology and the Freedom of Speech, Understanding the Ethical Concerns of Generative AI: A Practical Guide, and co-author of the Cognella best-selling Understanding Argument in a Post-Truth World.

Details

Education

• J.D., Law, 1999, University of Maryland
• M.A., Communication, 2000, Missouri State University-Springfield
• M.A., K-12 Educational Administration, 2023, Missouri State University-Springfield

Teaching

• COM 310 - AI and Communication
• COM 313/719 - Ethical Issues in Communication
• MED 581/681 - Media Law & Ethics
• COM 219 - PR Theory and Research Methods
• COM 322 - Introduction to Argumentation
• COM 209 - Survey of Communication Theory

Professional experience

Selected Publications

Books

Walters, H.L. (forthcoming, 2027). Current Issues in Emerging Technology & the Freedom of Speech. Cognella Publishing.
Walters, H.L. (2026). Understanding the Ethical Concerns of Generative AI: A Practical Guide. Cognella Publishing.
Walters, H.L. (2025). Communication Ethics: Promoting Truth, Responsibility, and Civil Discourse in a Polarized Age. Cognella Publishing.
Walters, H.L. & Stout, K.A. (2024) Understanding Argument in a Post Truth World, 2nd Edition, Cognella Publishing.

Book Chapters

Walters, H.L. (2026). AI and Communication (COM 310). In R. E. Ferdig, R. Hartshorne, E. Gandolfi, L. O. Campbell, & J. Petit (Eds.), Teaching AI: Syllabi, pedagogy, and best practices in higher education. EdTech Books. https://doi.org/10.59668/2869.30135
Walters, H.L. (2026). Unethical by design: Tackling bias in the development and deployment of artificial intelligence. In R. Luttrell & N. Bowman (Eds.), Provoking AI Futures: Merging Theory and Praxis. Routledge.
Walters, H.L. (2025). Preserving the Liberal Public Sphere Through AI Engagement. In A. McGowan-Kirsch (Ed.), Encouraging College Students’ Democratic Engagement in an Era of Political Polarization. Lexington Books, an imprint of Rowman and Littlefield.
Walters, H.L. (2025). Automating deception: Generative AI, disinformation, and the future of the liberal public sphere. In M. Zimdars (Ed.), The Impact of Disinformation and Misinformation on a Democratic Society. Routledge: Electronic Media Research Series.

Journal Articles

Walters, H.L. (2024). Generative artificial intelligence and the world Postman warned us about. Explorations in Media Ecology, (23), p. 121-133. Invited Special Issue: “Artificial Intelligence and Media Ecology". https://doi.org/10.1386/eme_00200_1
Walters, H.L. (2026). AI-generated influencers: An ethical call to action. The Midwest Quarterly: A Journal of Contemporary Thought. Invited Special Issue: “Contemporary Issues and Artificial Intelligence", 67(2), p. 8-18.

Professional Service

National Communication Association Task Force on Generative AI, Co-Chair
National Communication Association Resolutions Committee
American Forensics Association Executive Board - Recording Secretary

Research and professional interests

AI and Emerging Technology, Law & Ethics, and Culture

Awards and honors