Alexa Hepburn, PhD, is the Research Professor of Communication at Rutgers University. Dr. Hepburn's research focuses on the use and development of conversation analytic methods, including the notation and analysis of emotional expression within social interaction; the interactional role of interrogatives such as tag questions; parents' strategies for managing their children's behavior; and the empirical grounding of these interests in everyday interaction. Her work highlights limitations in more traditional perspectives on emotion and influence, and supports applied work in professional client encounters, including medical consultations and helpline interactions. Dr. Hepburn also continues to develop and deliver training workshops to various practitioners.

Jonathan Potter, DPhil, is dean of the School of Communication and Information and Distinguished Professor of Communication at Rutgers University. Dr. Potter addresses fundamental issues of theory and method, and has made substantial research contributions in the area of language and racism, the operation of helplines, and the role of cognition in communication. His 1987 book, Discourse and Social Psychology: Beyond Attitudes and Behaviour, developed a new way of thinking about social psychology- highlighting the role of communication- and continues to be widely influential. His 1996 book on epistemics, Representing Reality: Discourse, Rhetoric and Social Construction has been heavily cited.