Speak. Shine. Succeed.

Dr. Meggie Mapes is a renowned author, public speaking expert, and professor of communication at the University of Kansas, with a passion for creating major strategic communications wins, she is poised to empower individuals and organizations alike, propelling them towards a more diverse and inclusive culture.

As the Introductory Course Director, she leads and oversees all public speaking and professional public speaking classes at KU, serving over 2,500 students a year and has authored an award-winning public speaking textbook. Through Meggie Mapes, LLC, she has consulted and assisted individual entrepreneurs, small business owners, and multi-national organizations.

Her research explores cultural narratives and interrogates how gender and racial bias emerge in diverse contexts. Dr. Mapes is actively researching inside prisons to strategize educational interventions that aim to reduce violence.

Meggie, an Iowa native, now resides in Kansas City with her husband, Mike, and their two dogs: Buckley, a sharpei, and Bingo, a rottweiler. In her free time, she competes in body building competitions, reads fiction, and enjoys travel.