Darren Lawson, PhD

About

PhD in organizational and interpersonal communication and long-tenured educator/administrator (Dean at Bob Jones University) who now leads Paradox Communication Consulting as Founder/Consultant, helping organizations eliminate friction by simplifying, enhancing, and aligning internal and external communication. Provides corporate communication seminars, coaching, audits, facilitation, and fine-arts operational leadership, including fractional director work and theatre/musical theatre masterclasses.

Experience

• Founder/Consultant · Paradox Communication Consulting2024

  Currently, Darren is Founder/Consultant of Paradox Communication Consulting, whose mission is to help people and businesses eliminate friction by providing tools and methodologies that simplify, enhance, and align internal and external communication, unlocking their full potential. In addition to corporate clients, Darren also assists academic institutions with their fine arts mission and operations, including fractional work as director of fine arts. His work in schools includes theatre and musical theatre masterclasses at secondary schools across the U.S.

• Dean Emeritus (formerly Dean of the School of Fine Arts and Communication; Department of Communication Studies instructor) · Bob Jones University1997 – 2024

  Following a three-year leave-of-absence to complete doctoral work, Darren returned to BJU to assume responsibilities as Dean of the School of Fine Arts and Communication and to teach courses in the Department of Communication Studies, a position he held from 1997-2024. During his first years as dean, he managed a $7 million building project for a new fine arts center that was completed in December 1999. He also served as producer for the University Classic Players, Opera Association, Vespers, Unusual Films, and Living Gallery presentation. He oversaw three academic divisions and six staff departments. He was a regular actor in the University Classic Players and served as stage director for multiple grand opera and musical theatre productions. Darren is now Dean Emeritus. From 1986 to 1993, Darren served as a faculty member in the Division of Speech Communication. He served as course coordinator for both the Introduction to Speech Communication class (responsible for five instructors who taught twelve sections of the course) and for the Oral Communication for the Professions class (responsible for seven instructors who taught eighteen sections of the course). Darren served on a curriculum committee that developed two new undergraduate majors in Communication Studies for the Division of Speech Communication.

• Faculty member (Division of Speech Communication) / Course Coordinator · Bob Jones University1986 – 1993

  From 1986 to 1993, Darren served as a faculty member in the Division of Speech Communication. He served as course coordinator for both the Introduction to Speech Communication class (responsible for five instructors who taught twelve sections of the course) and for the Oral Communication for the Professions class (responsible for seven instructors who taught eighteen sections of the course). Darren served on a curriculum committee that developed two new undergraduate majors in Communication Studies for the Division of Speech Communication.

• Research Assistant / Graduate Teaching Assistant / Assistant Director of the Basic Course · University of Kansas–

  Darren began his work here as a research assistant for a major professor in the Communication Studies department and then began teaching as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Communication Studies department. Darren also served as the Assistant Director of the Basic Course, coordinating nearly 50 teaching assistants in the department. Responsibilities also included design of the departmental and basic course websites on the Internet. Darren also served as a research assistant for the telemedicine program at the KU Medical Center in Kansas City.

• Quality Assurance Engineering (summer positions) · KEMET Electronics Corporation–

  For four summers, Darren worked in the Quality Assurance Engineering department at KEMET, one of the ten largest employers in the Greenville area. Responsibilities included desktop publishing, preparation of the corporate Quality Manual, and internal communication consulting.

• Public Relations Assistant (Summer) · Hunter Publishing Company1984 – 1984

  Darren worked here during the summer of 1984 as a public relations assistant. In addition to office responsibilities, he trained in the various production departments, carrying an 88-page book through the entire publication process. Responsibilities included planning and organizing a four-day corporate seminar/workshop for over 400 clients.

• Co-Founder; renamed consulting firm · Professionally Speaking: A Communication Consulting Service (renamed Millennium Communication, Inc.)1990 – 1997

  In 1990, Darren co-founded Professionally Speaking: A Communication Consulting Service. The organization offers seminars, private instruction, and consulting help in various aspects of corporate communication. In 1997, the consulting firm expanded its offerings and was renamed Millennium Communication, Inc.

• Consulting firm (renamed previously) · Millennium Communication, Inc. (renamed into Paradox Consulting in 2024)1997 – 2024

  In 1997, the consulting firm expanded its offerings and was renamed Millennium Communication, Inc. In 2024, the consulting company expanded and rebranded into Paradox Consulting.

Education

• University of KansasPh.D., Organizational and interpersonal communication
• Bob Jones UniversityMaster of Arts, Platform arts
• Bob Jones UniversityBachelor of Arts, Public speaking (minor in publishing)

Similar talent on Pangea

Danielle H.Organization and Leadership Psychologist at Great Dane 921 with expertise in organizational growth and transformation.New York, NYErica T.Strategic Scientific Communication LeaderAlexis D. S.Communications Consultant specializing in Media Relations, Brand Strategy & Crisis CommunicationsRichmond, VARRobert D.Communications Executive & Trusted C-Suite Counselor | Driving Strategic Storytelling, Reputation & Crisis Management for B2B Brands and Fortune 100/500 LeadersNew Hope, PA 18938