Eric James

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Eric James

Professor of Communication Studies

Communication Studies

Biography

Dr. James' research interest in organizational culture stems from his experience working for several large organizations including America Online, eBay, and Fastenal. He studies Organizational Communication, Identity and Wellness. He is particularly interested in the ways in which work shapes our sense of self and its consequences as he discusses in a . His most recent research interests look at the extreme fitness discourse in the workplace.

Research Interests

    Peer Reviewed Journal Articles


    Butcher, T., James, E. P., & Bloom, P. (2023). Extreme wellness at work: Whose body counts in the rise of exceptionalist organisational fitness cultures. Organization, 30(3), 453-472. https://doi.org/10.1177/13505084221131633


    James, E. P., & Zanin, A.C., Damon, Z. (2023). Blue-collar and healthy worker identities: How parallel ideal worker identities sustain unobtrusive control on the shop-floor. Management Communication Quarterly, 37(3), 542-571.https://doiorg.aurarialibrary.idm.oclc.org/10.1177/08933189221134116


    James, E. P., & Gill, R. (2018). Neoliberalism and the communicative labor of CrossFit. Communication & Sport. DOI: 10.1177/2167479517737036 (online first)


    James, E. P., & Zoller, H. (2018). Resistance training: (Re)shaping extreme forms of workplace health promotion. Management Communication Quarterly, 32(1), 60-89. doi/10.1177/0893318917696990


    Richardson, B. K. & James, E. P. (2017). The role of occupational identity in negotiating traumatic
    experiences: The case of a rural fire department. Journal of Applied Communication Research, 45, 313-332. doi: 10.1080/00909882.2017.1320573


    Translated for a general audience in NCA’s Communication Currents: http://bit.ly/2jgvAfT


    Barbour, J. B., & James, E. P. (2015). When collaboration becomes compliance: Interorganizational
    identity tensions in the regulation of a toxic waste storage facility. Journal of Applied
    Communication Research, 43, 363-384. doi: 10.1080/00909882.2015.1083601. Awarded Bill Eadie Distinguished Scholarly Article Award (2017).



    Other


    James, E. P. & Zoller, H. (2017). Healthy workplace. In C. R. Scott & L. K. Lewis (Eds.), International Encyclopedia of Organizational Communication. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell.


    James, E. P. (2016). A critical scholar goes consulting: Critical—interpretive approaches. In. C. Engstrom and J. Frye (Eds.). Tales from the field of qualitative communication consulting. Kendall Hunt.

Teaching Interests

    Students First - Always.

Education

PhD in Organizational Communication

Texas A&M University

MA in Communication Studies

University of North Texas

BA in Spanish & Communication Double Major

University of New Mexico

Published Works

    James, P. E., Kendall, E. B. (2025). The Communication of Productive Fitness: How CrossFit Shapes a Branded Self Through the Embodiment of Exceptionalism . (). SpringerNature. https://link.springer.com/book/9783031910456 James, P. E., Zanin, A., Damon, Z. (2023). Blue-Collar and Healthy Worker Identities: How Parallel Ideal Worker Identities Sustain Unobtrusive Control on the Shop-Floor. Management Communication Quarterly. Butcher, T., James, P. E., Bloom, P. (2023). Extreme Wellness at Work: Whose body counts in the rise of exceptionalist organisational fitness cultures. Organizationhttps://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/13505084221131633. James, P. E., Gill, R. (2018). Neoliberalism and the Communicative Labor of CrossFit. Communication & Sport. James, P. E., Zoller, H. (2018). Resistance Training: (Re)shaping Extreme Forms of Workplace Health Promotion. Management Communication Quarterly, 0. https://doi.org/10.1177/0893318917696990. James, P. E., Zoller, H. (2017). Healthy Workplace. Wiley-Blackwell, Richardson, K. B., James, P. E. (2017). The Role of Occupational Identity in Negotiating Traumatic Experiences: The Case of a Rural Fire Department. Journal of Applied Communication Research. James, P. E. (2016). A critical scholar goes consulting: Critical—interpretive approaches. (). Kendall Hunt. Barbour, J., James, P. E. (2015). Collaboration for Compliance: Identity Tensions in the Interorganizational and Interdisciplinary Regulation of a Toxic Waste Storage Facility. Journal of Applied Communication Researchhttps://doi.org/10.1080/00909882.2015.1083601.