William Cupach
Illinois State University’s Professor Emeritus of Communication William Cupach is the 2013 recipient of the Western States Communication Association’s (WSCA) Scholar Award.The award recognizes sustained contribution to the study of human communication from a member of WSCA who has made a difference in the way scholars and students think about the nature, function and scope of communication.
Cupach has developed a significant national and international reputation while making substantial contributions to the School of Communication and the discipline. His interdisciplinary research illuminates the dark side of social and personal relationships. His 2004 book, The Dark Side of Relationship Pursuit: From Attraction to Obsession and Stalking, co-authored with Brian Spitzberg, received the Outstanding Book Award from the International Association for Relationship Research and was recently translated into Italian. As one of the world’s pre-eminent scholars on stalking,
In his scholarly work, Cupach explores difficult social and personal relationships, known as obsessive relational intrusion. His efforts have been groundbreaking and cutting-edge, stimulating the work of others, including J. Reid Meloy and Joseph McCann. His work has been cited among the top 5 percent of research productivity by the journal Communication Monographs. He has served as vice president, president and past president of the International Association of Relationship Research.
Cupach’s achievement, along with the immense appeal of his scholarship across disciplines, was recognized when he was selected as the College of Arts and Sciences Lecturer and was recipient of the Outstanding University Research Award. He has also been honored by the College of Arts and Sciences with the Janice Witherspoon Neuleib Award for Outstanding Scholarly Achievement in 2010 and as Outstanding College Researcher in 2001.
Cupach earned his bachelor’s degree from Loyola University of Chicago, double-majoring in economics and communication arts. He received his master’s degree and doctorate in communication from the University of Southern California. Despite recently retiring from the school, he is still actively teaching and mentoring graduate students.