Dr. Darius Benton
Dr. Darius M. Benton
Associate Professor of Communication StudiesArts and CommunicationBiography
Dr. Darius M. Benton is an Associate Professor of Communication Studies (Organizational Communication) in the department of Arts and Communication, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, at the University of Houston-Downtown.
Dr. Benton earned the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Organizational Leadership from Regent University, Master of Divinity degree with a certificate in Religious Education from Emory University, and Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communication from Norfolk State University. He had years of experience as an accomplished secondary school educator and ministry leadership professional prior to joining the UHD Communication Studies faculty.
Dr. Benton's research interests examine organizational culture and leadership across multiple contexts, particularly regarding issues of race, gender, and religion.
Degrees Earned
Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from Regent University's School of Business and Leadership
M.Div. with a certificate in Religious Education from Emory University's Candler School of Theology
B.S. in Mass Communication from Norfolk State University's College of Liberal Arts
Courses Taught
COMM 1304 – Introduction to Communication
COMM 3306 – Business and Professional Speech Communication
COMM 3340 – Communication and Leadership
COMM 4310 – Communication in the Organization
COMM 4335 – Religious Communication
COMM 6313 – Leading Communities and Organizations through Strategic Change
More Information
Recent Publications:
Benton, D. M. (2022). Examining Web-Based Mission Statements of traditionally Black Methodist Denominational Churches in the Top Ten Cities for African Americans in the United States. Journal of Communication and Religion, 45(4), 28-40.
Benton, D. M., Ceballos, S.D. & Burton, M.S. (2022). Measuring Impression Management in Male Leaders of Color. Journal of Business Diversity, 22(1), 46-55.
Benton, D.M. (2022). To GO or not to GO: Decision Making in a Leader's Voluntary Exit. In J. S. Wrench (Ed.) Casing Organizational Communication (2nd ed., p. 85-91). Kendall Hunt.
Benton, D. M. (2021). "Getcha Lesson": Gleaning Wisdom from African-American K-12 Educators Who Endured the Desegregation of Public Schools. In J.L. Chism, S.C. DeFreitas, V. Robertson, & D. Ryden, (Eds.) Critical Race Studies Across Disciplines: Resisting Racism through Scholactivism. (pp. 109-126). Lanham: Lexington Books.
Benton, D. M. (2020). Hero or villain: A Character and Content Analysis of Erik Killmonger in the film Black Panther. Florida Communication Journal, 48 (2), 183-208.
Benton, D. M., Ceballos, S.D. & Burton, M.S. (2020). Measuring Impression Management in Women Leaders of Color. Journal of Business Diversity, 20(3), 10-22.
Benton, D.M. & McCullough, C. L. (2019). Escalating Conflict and the Emotions of Firing an Employee. In R. S. Bisel & M. W. Kramer (Eds.), Cases in Organizational Communication (pp. 112-116). New York: Oxford University Press.
Memberships:
Association of Business Communication
Humanities, Education and Research Association
National Communication Association
Religious Communication Association
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.