Malynnda Stewart

Communication Professor

At Indiana State University, Dr. Malynnda Stewart, PhD, is passionate about bridging the worlds of health communication and human connection. With a career that includes teaching, consulting, and podcasting, Stewart’s influence stretches far beyond the classroom. As an associate professor of communication, founder of Compassionate Navigation, and host of the Communication Compass podcast, Stewart is a dedicated advocate for her students, her clients, and anyone seeking advice on how to navigate difficult conversations.

But beyond her many titles lies Dr. Stewart’s powerful, unwavering belief that communication is the compass guiding us through life’s most challenging moments.

“There isn’t a single job that doesn’t require communication. Every skill set—every career—needs communication to articulate ideas and connect with others,” Stewart says.

Stewart’s area of expertise lies in health communication, and she brings this knowledge to life in her classes, which cover a range of topics including interpersonal communication, media criticism, media and society, and persuasion. But for Stewart, teaching is about more than imparting knowledge — it’s about creating a community. Her classroom is a space where students not only learn but feel safe to engage in honest, open conversations.

“My goal is to make my classes a safe space where students can have challenging conversations. I’m not trying to get them to think like me or answer questions the way they think I want them to answer them. That’s not how communication should work,” she explains. “It’s about encouraging students to express themselves and ask tough questions.”

One of the most cherished moments for Stewart each semester is when a student has their “light bulb” moment – the instant when everything clicks, and they push through obstacles to realize their full potential.

“I love seeing that moment when they might want to give up, but then they keep going. They figure out the right questions to ask, and they know what they need to do next,” she says. “I’m there to guide them, but they’re the ones who know what to do.”

That same patient, compassionate approach guides Stewart’s research and consulting work. Her expertise spans health promotion, patient advocacy for diverse populations, gender-affirming care training, rhetorical leadership, and motivational leadership, among other areas. But no matter the subject, Stewart’s goal remains the same: to help people feel heard and empowered, especially when it comes to navigating difficult conversations in healthcare settings.

“Some patients don’t know how to have difficult conversations regarding their health. I like to be a mediator to help everyone find common ground and to make sure everyone is on the same page,” Stewart explains.

That’s why she founded Compassionate Navigation, a consulting service designed to help patients and their families find clarity and direction during times of health uncertainty. Whether guiding patients through complex medical information or helping them communicate with physicians, Stewart works to ensure that no one feels left behind.

“Every patient deserves to feel seen and heard during those crucial moments of their health journey,” Stewart says. “When they feel empowered, they can advocate for themselves. That’s when the real change happens.”

Guiding all of Stewart’s work is a set of deeply valued principles: compassion, curiosity, and courage. These principles, she believes, are essential not only in fostering effective communication but also in living a meaningful life.

“Those principles are really important to me. You need compassion to understand others, curiosity to ask the right questions, and the courage to speak up when it matters most,” Stewart explains.

Outside of her work at Indiana State University and Compassionate Navigation, Stewart also hosts the Communication Compass podcast, where she explores the vast landscape of communication in everyday life. The podcast is designed to make communication accessible to everyone, whether in personal relationships or professional settings. Stewart takes complex ideas and breaks them down into insights that listeners can apply immediately.

One episode of the podcast, for example, centers on the way we speak to ourselves. Stewart poses a simple yet profound question: “Why would you criticize yourself the same way you would never criticize your best friend?”

“We can be our harshest critics,” she explains. “But we would never tolerate someone speaking to our best friend the way we speak to ourselves. If we change the way we talk to ourselves, we can transform that mindset. For every negative thing we say about ourselves, we should say three positive things. It can be as simple as saying, ‘I like the color of my shoes.’ Or, ‘I did the laundry today.’ We must change the way we talk to ourselves.”

And when Stewart thinks about her role at Indiana State, she’s reminded of her students and how they challenge her in return. “At Indiana State, we see our students for who they are and help them get to where they want to be,” she says. “I’m constantly inspired by the ideas they have in class, and I’m challenged every day to be the best mentor I can be for them.”

Through all her work—whether as a professor, consultant, or podcaster—one thing is abundantly clear: Stewart is ALL IN – for communication, for compassion, and for the power of every individual voice to make a difference.