Sheryl A Friedley

Sheryl A Friedley

Sheryl A Friedley

Emeritus Faculty

Interpersonal communication, communication and gender

Sheryl A. Friedley is currently Professor Emerita at George Mason University. She earned both a B.S. and M.A. in Speech Communication at Ball State University as well as a Ph.D. in Communication from Purdue University. She has developed and taught such courses as Public Speaking, Interpersonal Communication, Small Group Communication, Nonverbal Communication, Interviewing, Workplace Communication, Senior Seminar in Communication, Theories of Communication, Persuasion, Special Occasion Speaking, and Interpersonal Communication in Professional Relationships. Friedley also served as Assistant Director of the nationally-ranked George Mason University Forensics Team for sixteen years where she coached National Champions in Impromptu Speaking, Extemporaneous Speaking, Informative Speaking, Persuasive Speaking, After-Dinner Speaking, and Communication Analysis. During her tenure in this position, the GMU Forensics Team was consistently recognized as Great Eastern Champions, among the "Top 5" Forensics Teams in the Nation, and the American Forensic Association-National Individual Events Tournament National Champion in 1979.

Within the Department of Communication, Dr. Friedley served as Associate Department Chair for five years, Director of Hiring & Scheduling for five years, and Undergraduate Coordinator for four years. She also served and chaired a variety of ongoing committees within the Department of Communication, the CAS/CHHS, and the University. Friedley was Editor of the National Forensics Journal from 1987-1993; in addition, she is co-editor of the 1989 book, Beyond Boundaries: Sex & Gender Diversity in Communication, author of the 2003 book, Communication and Gender, 4th ed., and editor of the 2005 book, Interpersonal Communication Theory: A Reader.

Friedley was also co-founder of Communicator's Edge, a consulting firm dedicated to assessing, coaching, and training individuals for communication success. She developed and conducted communication seminars for such organizations as the National Association of College Stores, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, Business Software Alliance, Bell Atlantic, KPMG Peat Marwick, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Federal Highway Administration, the Office of Patents and Trademarks, the Department of Homeland Security, and The White House. In 1981, she was named one of the Outstanding Young Women of America in recognition of her professional achievement, superior leadership ability, and exceptional service to the community. She received the 1987 Distinguished Communicator Award presented by the Virginia Speech Communication Association, as well as Distinguished Service Awards given by the American Forensic Association, the National Forensic Association, and Delta Sigma Rho-Tau Kappa Alpha National Forensic Honor Society. In 1989, Friedley was recognized by George Mason University's Alumni Association as the Faculty Member of the Year.

Upon retirement in 2011, Professor Emerita Friedley returned to Indiana to be closer to family and long-time friends. She continues to be active in community service by overseeing a tutoring program called Study Connection and working with a variety of volunteer programs such as Rising Stars, Servants On Site, and InAsMuch Ministry. Though she "sometimes" misses life in Northern Virginia, she is always proud of the GMU Department of Communication legacy that is going strong!

Selected Publications

She co-authored the 2003 book titled Communication and Gender, 4th edition and was the editor of the 2005 book titled Interpersonal Communication Theory: A Reader.