鈥淎ccording to a , one in four people worldwide feel very lonely or fairly lonely,鈥� said Dr. Julien Mirivel, professor of applied communication and author of 鈥淭he Art of Positive Communication.鈥� 鈥淚n the United States, one in two adults report experiencing loneliness. That鈥檚 why my colleagues and I from the Positive Communication Network developed a short guide with eight tips to reduce loneliness through positive communication.鈥�

Mirivel co-founded the Positive Communication Network in 2023, a nonprofit dedicated to fostering a community committed to creating a better social world through positive communication research, education, and practice.

The guide outlines eight key strategies:

1. Greet Others Warmly
2. Invite Connection Time
3. Ask Meaningful Questions
4. Be Present
5. Offer to Help Someone
6. Express Gratitude
7. Listen More Deeply
8. Savor the Moment

Mirivel highlights Tip No. 2, Invite Connection Time, as particularly important. This involves reaching out to others to create opportunities for social interaction, such as inviting a colleague for a walk at lunch.

鈥淐ommunication is like a muscle鈥攖he lonelier you feel, the harder it is to take the first step,鈥� Mirivel explained. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just about greeting people; you have to be the one who initiates connections. Adults used to attend more social gatherings, but that鈥檚 become less common. Sometimes, it鈥檚 as simple as inviting someone to lunch. I enjoy cooking, so I invited a couple of friends to prepare a meal together.鈥�

He also emphasizes Tip No. 4, Be Present, as a crucial way to foster connections.

鈥淵ou build relationships by being available and engaged,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e standing in line at Starbucks looking at your phone, others can鈥檛 make eye contact with you, and you lose opportunities for connection. that the time teenagers spend with friends has decreased up to 70% in the last 15 to 20 years, partly due to social media. When interacting with others, minimize distractions. Be fully present鈥攜ou鈥檒l feel more curious, engaged, and connected.鈥�

Despite his expertise in positive communication, Mirivel acknowledges that he, too, has experienced loneliness and works to apply these principles in his own life.

鈥淓veryone goes through periods of loneliness, and I have to be intentional about making positive changes,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 practice all eight tips鈥擨鈥檝e become more active in groups, manage a Saturday morning tennis league, started a cooking club with friends, and founded the Positive Communication Network. I鈥檝e learned to be the initiator rather than waiting for an invitation. My goal is to cultivate meaningful relationships.鈥�

For those looking to be more social and less lonely, Mirivel suggests:

• Making eye contact, smiling, and greeting people throughout the day
• Putting away your phone in public spaces and starting a conversation instead
• Scheduling recurring lunch meetings with friends and relatives
• Organizing group activities such as a cooking night, movie night, book club, or sports gathering

鈥淵ou have to think of it as a journey,鈥� Mirivel said. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 expect one action to eliminate loneliness overnight. It鈥檚 the small, consistent choices that shape your experience. Sometimes we prioritize work or social media over relationships, but every decision matters. What you do daily builds the foundation for meaningful connections.鈥�

One of the ways Mirivel fosters connection is by collaborating more in his research and professional projects.

鈥淎 big change from 10 years ago is that I collaborate much more,鈥� he said. 鈥淢y last three books have been co-authored, which has introduced me to new people and maintained meaningful friendships along the way. The Positive Communication Network is not just about research鈥攊t鈥檚 about forming relationships and making meaningful connections.鈥�

To encourage connection among students, Mirivel requires his online students to set up a Zoom

meeting with a classmate.

鈥淭his is one of their favorite assignments,鈥� he said. 鈥淢any online students never meet their classmates, and it can feel isolating. But we have the technology to help them connect, and this small step makes a big difference.鈥�

You can find the . The Positive Communication Network team that contributed to the guide includes Kristen Christman (University of North Carolina at Greensboro), Ryan Fuller (Sacramento State University), Phillip Glenn (Emerson College), Margaret Pitts (University of Arizona), Thomas Socha (Old Dominion University), and Amy Young (University of Michigan).

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鈥淚 was given three to six months to live, and sentenced to hospice in 2016,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 promised myself I would beat cancer so I could raise my children and go back and finish my degree at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.”

In spring 2019, true to her promise, Nelson returned to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock after 鈥渕iraculously beating cancer.鈥� This spring, she will earn a Master of Arts degree in applied communication.

Nelson credits her cancer survivorship to medical treatments at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and her trust in Jesus Christ.

鈥淎fter diagnosis, I did three things. First, I decided to trust my prayers were heard. Second, I controlled my emotions by thinking, speaking, and acting positively. Lastly, I made a to-do list,鈥� she said.

Of the items on that list, the Little Rock native has checked off returning to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, getting her associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees, becoming a leader/ambassador for her school, and being an honor student. She has also studied abroad, worked diligently with her community, and ran for public office.

鈥淚 came so close to death while battling throat cancer. I did not want it to be said I had potential. I want it to be said I lived up to my potential,鈥� Nelson said 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what beating cancer did for me.鈥�

She first attended 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock in 1998 when she was a military spouse. However, she later got pregnant and left school when her then-husband got stationed at an Alaskan air base. In 2010, Nelson began experiencing symptoms, including a pulmonary embolism which is a sudden blockage in the pulmonary arteries that send blood to the lungs. A cyst was later discovered on her lungs.

Nelson realized that the likely culprit of her health issues was Alaska鈥檚 increased use of outdoor wood boilers which caused air pollution. Even as her health worsened, she began to advocate with her neighbors for smoke-free schools and a ban on wood boilers. Her clean air advocacy later resulted in the banning of smoking and the use of tobacco products on all University of Alaska campuses.

Nelson鈥檚 passion for advocacy continued when she returned to Little Rock where she ran for City Board of Directors Ward 2.

鈥淗owever, because I did not have a college degree, I could not get the jobs I needed to support my family after becoming a single parent,鈥� she said.

Nelson, who now works as a project manager for the Coalition for Tobacco-Free Arkansas, had long dreamed of attending 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.

鈥淎s a youth, our schools and youth groups took us on field trips to the university,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 saw how proud the college students were on campus and how happy the Greeks on campus seemed to be, and I wanted that pride.鈥�

While in the university鈥檚 Applied Communication program, Nelson said two amazing professors inspired her: Dr. Julien Mirivel and Dr. Avinash Thombre.

鈥淭hey helped put a title to what was important to me about communication,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 love the power of communication. How we apply our communication affects the world around us. My degree gave me a foundation and focus on how I apply my communication skills through research and everyday practical use.鈥�

Dr. Mirivel describes Nelson as someone who brings positive energy, a learning attitude, and great engagement.

鈥淚鈥檝e been a mentor for several years now, and she just completed her master鈥檚 paper under my direction,鈥� he said. 鈥淪he has become a keen researcher, a stronger writer, and a better thinker.鈥�

At 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, Nelson is a Phi Kappa Phi honor society member, an ambassador for the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education, and a Diversity Council member. She has also been active in the Ethics Bowl and the Psychology Club and has served as an ESPN camera operator thanks to a partnership between the university and ESPN Plus. However, Nelson mainly describes herself as a leader to her four children –  Kristoffer, Kamreaon, Kristian, and Sara. The first-generation college student said she has 鈥渁 sincere appreciation for the fact that I paved the way for my children to get a higher education.鈥�

Nelson expressed deep gratitude for her children’s support and sacrifices throughout her educational journey.

鈥淢any times I did homework in the bleachers at their games or had to put a sign on my bedroom door that read: 鈥淪orry Mom is Studying, Please Come Back At鈥︹�� she said. 鈥淭hey were so patient and kind through this process.鈥�

She is also thankful for Rhona and Bill Temple. 鈥淚 attended a summer camp founded by Mrs. Rhona for at-risk youth. Even after I graduated from her program, she and her husband stayed in my life,鈥� she said.

Mrs. Temple took her to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock to register for classes in 1998.

鈥淪he and Mr. Bill have cheered me all the way through each of my degrees,鈥� Nelson said. 鈥淭he two of them always show up at my graduations with big smiles, cameras, and hugs to celebrate, putting a smile on my face and encouraging me to keep going. They never stopped believing in me.鈥�

Attorney Eric Buchanan, another supporter, told Nelson that she was smart and could excel academically.

鈥淗e never stopped motivating me. From the time I re-enrolled through each degree, he has given me pep talks,鈥� she said.

After graduation, Nelson plans to 鈥減our my heart into community service, research, and work in the field of communication.鈥� She said 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock has absolutely prepared her for the next step in her life journey. As a little girl growing up in poverty just blocks away, it was her dream school, and it gave her something to dream about to change her circumstances.

鈥溙切腣log传媒 Little Rock embraced me as a unique and curious individual and gave me a fair chance of getting a robust and highly sought-after type of education 鈥� one that would set me up for success and prepare me for the real world,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 am forever grateful and appreciative of my academic family. Every one of my professors had a huge impact on me and motivated me to accomplish my goals. Everyone at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock had a role to play in me getting to where I am today, and I am forever grateful.鈥�

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Coming in at No. 10, this story told the legacy and impact of Howard Williams, a former truck driver who headed the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board for decades. He鈥檚 known for his unwavering support for the education and advancement of young construction professionals in Arkansas, including helping to found the Construction Management program at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.

The heartwarming tale of Professor Julien Mirivel, an expert in the field of positive communication, becoming a U.S. citizen 29 years after he first arrived in the country as a high school exchange student is the ninth most popular story of the year.

It鈥檚 hard to imagine earning the title of a Distinguished Alumni without being popular at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock! The story honoring the winners of the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Awards 鈥� Oscar Horton, Bill Mathis, Jr., Stephanie Caruthers, and Nancy Secen 鈥� earned its spot in the Top 10 stories of 2023.

2023 has been an exciting year for Dr. Sloan Davidson, director of the School of Nursing at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. A story about her being named to Soiree Magazine鈥檚 2023 Class of Women to Watch proved to be the seventh most popular story of 2023.

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Centennial Campaign Member James Bobo is a well-known personality around campus and Little Rock. The story of Bobo being selected as the 2023 Taste of Little Rock Honoree made the list as the sixth most popular story of the year.

Families are always looking for fun ways to spend the summer months, and a story on a free cybersecurity summer camp for junior high and high school students was very popular at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, coming in fifth on the list.

Student scholarships are always popular with college students and their families, which is why it was no surprise that the announcement of a new matching scholarship for 糖心Vlog传媒-Pulaski Tech students who transfer to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock came in as the fourth most popular story of 2023.

The 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock community was excited to welcome Colin Crawford as the new dean of the William H. Bowen School of Law in July, rounding out the top three stories of 2023.

The penultimate story of last year proved the continued popularity of student scholarship programs across Arkansas. The launch of Trojan Guarantee, a groundbreaking initiative designed to break down financial barriers and empower freshmen to earn a bachelor鈥檚 degree with no tuition cost, came in as the second top story of the year.

Coming in as the top story of 2023 is the tale of doctoral student Ranjitha Hariharalakshmanan, who won a prestigious national graduate student award from the AVS for her materials science research into creating a more efficient method of water purification!

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Dr. Julien Mirivel and Dr. Avinash Thombre, professors of applied communication at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, will present 鈥淭he 7 Elements of Personal Transformation: Key Lessons from Global Research in Nepal, India, Uganda, and Honduras鈥� Tuesday, Oct. 17, at 6:30 p.m.

Grounded in data collected in partnership with Heifer International, a global nonprofit whose mission is to 鈥渆nd hunger and poverty while caring for the Earth,鈥� the fall 2023 lecture will share the story of an interdisciplinary research project that began in Nepal in 2019 and spanned four countries across three continents. Based on hundreds of interviews and thousands of survey responses, this leadership lecture will show how any person can harness their agency and communicative power to create real change in their lives and in the life of their community.

The next Leadership Lecture Series will feature Sajni Kumpuris, director of education at Arkansas PBS. She will deliver her lecture, 鈥淩each Out and Touch: Connecting High-Quality Educational and Storytelling Audiences Through Video-Based Content鈥� Feb. 27, 2024.

In the Spring 2024 leadership lecture, the audience will learn about strategies to effectively engage, inspire, and educate audiences through video-based content creation, including storytelling, language, on-camera talent, engagement, and understanding of the viewing audience.

The Leadership Lecture Series features presentations by faculty and graduates of the Department of Applied Communication at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock in the areas of communication, management, and leadership.

Both lectures are free and open to the public and will be held virtually via Zoom. You may sign up for the virtual lectures via this online form.

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Co-written with Dr. Alexander Lyon, a professor of communication at the State University of New York, Brockport, the book provides a practical model of positive communication that will build unity, inspire change, and create positive relationships in organizations.

The book, 鈥�,鈥� is available for purchase on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

In the book, the authors provide a clear roadmap for leaders to connect genuinely with people, create strong relationships, foster a positive team that achieves great results, motivate, influence, and inspire others, and make a workplace of compassion, mutual support, and fairness.

鈥淭he book focuses on six critical behaviors that leaders can focus on to create more meaningful relationships with their employees, to create stronger teams, and to create an overall positive workplace environment,鈥� Mirivel said. 鈥淭hat is something that people are very concerned about in today鈥檚 world. People want to feel valued and to work at a place where they are treated fairly and can grow and develop.鈥�

When the book was released on Amazon in July, it was ranked first in communications and business communication books as well as the No. 1 new release in communication reference, business management, and communication in management book categories.

Drawing on decades of research in the fields of communication and leadership and combined experience consulting and training leaders across many professions, the authors offer concrete practices and strategies to lead effectively, create community, and inspire positive change.

Arvind Singhal, the William J. Clinton Distinguished Fellow at the Clinton School of Public Service, describes the new book as 鈥渙ne of the most significant books of the decade in the communication discipline.鈥�

The book ends with a communication plan that can serve as a roadmap for people who want to become positive leaders.

鈥淏ooks can often be motivational and inspirational, but you don鈥檛 always know what to do at the end of the book,鈥� Mirivel said. 鈥淭his book ends with a very concrete communication plan that a leader can enact right now. Reading about positive communication is nice, but our ultimate goal is for people to use what they learn in the book.鈥�

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On June 30, Mirivel, 44, traveled to Memphis, Tennessee, where he took the citizenship oath and officially became a U.S. citizen with dozens of other people.

鈥淚 felt a lot of pride that day and a lot of pride for the journey,鈥� Mirivel said. 鈥淚t represented an intentional step in my life. It took me a long time to do it.鈥�

Mirivel said that it鈥檚 hard for most people to understand what it was like when he first arrived in the U.S. as a teenage high school exchange student in Iowa. He grew up in Annecy, France. At the time of the exchange program, Mirivel鈥檚 family was living in Switzerland.

鈥淚 was 15, and I didn鈥檛 speak a word of English,鈥� Mirivel said. 鈥淭his was 1994. There was no cell phone. I couldn鈥檛 just call or text my parents. It was an isolating experience, and this taught me a lot of the importance of communication.鈥�

Mirivel credits this experience as what led him to major in communication as an undergraduate student. This decision would go on to define his career as Mirivel has become an expert in the field of positive communication.

After completing his exchange program, Mirivel had the unexpected opportunity to return to Iowa when his now lifelong friend Derek, whom he met during his second semester in Iowa, invited him to live with his family so he could finish his high school education. Mirivel and Derek remain friends to this day.

鈥淥n the day I became a citizen, I texted with my friend Derek who allowed me to come back to the U.S. and thanked him for his friendship and for the opportunity to come here and continue my studies,鈥� Mirivel said. 鈥淚 lived with him for over three years. We are like brothers.鈥�

With having become a permanent resident while a doctoral student, Mirivel could have become a U.S. citizen earlier. It was a decision that he carefully considered for almost two decades.

鈥淭here is a mix of emotions about it,鈥� Mirivel said. 鈥淚 love America, but I also love France. In becoming an American, there is a fear that I am relinquishing a part of who I am.鈥�

Mirivel made the decision to become an American citizen at the beginning of the year, a decision that was encouraged by his father.

鈥淢y father was really proud and emotional about it,鈥� Mirivel said. 鈥淔or my mom, it鈥檚 always harder. I think her biggest dream would have been for me to stay in France.鈥�

To become an American citizen, Mirivel had to pass an English test and a civics test. His entire family got involved in the process with his wife Meg and their three children 鈥� Hugo, John Luke, and Claire 鈥� helping him study.

鈥淢y wife and kids were proud to share this moment,鈥� Mirivel said. 鈥淲e prepared for the civics test together, and all my kids got involved in the questions. They all helped me prepare for the test, and it was a lot of fun.鈥�

Whenever they visit Mirivel鈥檚 home country, his wife and kids often ask him why he lives in the U.S. when France is so beautiful.

鈥淪ome of it is serendipity, but I have a love of the culture and a love of the education I received here,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen I was 16 and coming back to Iowa for the second time, I don鈥檛 think the plan was to spend my life in America. The plan was to finish high school. Then I got accepted to the University of Northern Iowa, I found the communication major, and that was my lifelong passion.鈥�

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The Positive Communication Network, which includes Mirivel as a founding member, will present the , a one-hour event designed to celebrate great books that inspire better social worlds, noon 鈥� 1 p.m. July 28.

Co-written with Alexander Lyon, a professor of communication at the State University of New York, Brockport, the book provides a practical model of positive communication that will immediately inspire unity and influence change in organizations.

鈥淭his is a book for emerging and mid-level leaders who want to improve the skills they need to create a positive workplace,鈥� Mirivel said. 鈥淲e focus on six critical behaviors and show how to apply those behaviors to build meaningful connections in one-on-one interactions, at the group level, and across the organization. Lots of people talk about how important communication is, but not many people show you how to do it. Our book is different: we give concrete behaviors to implement right here, right now.鈥�

In the book, the authors provide a clear roadmap to:

• Connect genuinely with people
• Create strong relationships
• Foster a positive team that achieves great results
• Motivate, influence, and inspire others
• Make a workplace of compassion, mutual support, and fairness

Drawing on decades of research in the fields of communication and leadership and combined experience consulting and training leaders across many professions, the authors offer concrete practices and strategies to lead effectively, create community, and inspire positive change.

Arvind Singhal, the William J. Clinton Distinguished Fellow at the Clinton School of Public Service, describes the new book as 鈥渙ne of the most significant books of the decade in the communication discipline.鈥�

The event will include a 25-minute leadership training based on the book with Mirivel and Lyon, a 15-minute fireside chat with the authors moderated by Amy Young from the Michigan Ross School of Business, as well as a 10-minute Q&A session with all the participants moderated by Maggie Pitts of the University of Arizona.

鈥淲e are going to show participants how to use positive communication to shift what happens in interaction,鈥� Mirivel said. 鈥淲hat we will focus on are simple techniques that will transform difficult moments. Our goal is for professionals who attend to leave with one key skill they can implement immediately. We will overview our model, practice and interact, and have fun too.鈥�

Additionally, attendees will also receive a free positive communication plan they can use to develop their own leadership skills, a special discount rate for the book, a free nine-day email class, and opportunities for free virtual speaking engagements with classes.

The virtual event is free and open to the public.

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