Mutua earns Hellervik Prize

Eddah Mutua, professor of communications studies, has earned the $10,000 Hellervik Prize for promoting global understanding in Minnesota classrooms.

A native of Kenya and a 10-year veteran of St. Cloud State, Mutua is an intercultural communication scholar who leads a project called “Embracing Intercultural Communication Pedagogies to Promote Intercultural and Global Understanding in Global Classrooms in Central Minnesota.”

Awarded annually, the Hellervik Prize is St. Cloud State’s premier faculty research honor. It rewards the advance of knowledge on issues of importance to students, the University and society.

Eddah Mutua

The Hellervik Prize is administered by the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects. It is funded through a gift to the St. Cloud State University Foundation from Lowell Hellervik ’56, founder of Personnel Decisions International, a global consulting firm.

“Dr. Mutua has had an amazing impact on our academic community, St. Cloud, our region, and state. Her work also extends internationally as she reaches out to her native Kenya,” said Marilyn Hart, interim associate provost for research and sponsored programs.

Mutua’s project examines how technology can connect cultures and promote understanding of cultural differences. The project also advocates changes in how intercultural communication is taught and how Minnesota’s teachers are trained to promote cultural understanding.

“I believe the local and global communication environment calls on scholars to explore opportunities that inform how culture and communication values are patterned, negotiated and renegotiated in communities when different cultures come into contact,” Mutua said.

She holds a master’s degree from the City University of London and doctorate from the University of Wales.