His research areas include identity, prejudice, ethnicity, communication satisfaction, adolescent drug resistance, and romantic love. The National Institute on Drug Abuse awarded Hecht a series of major grants on the social process of adolescent drug offers. With these, a multicultural drug prevention program was formed for seventh graders called, keepin’ it REAL. Keepin’ it REAL went on to be selected as a “model program” by the National Registry of Effective Programs for its ability to influence adolescent drug use.
Experience
Hecht has conducted training and research for companies such as Xerox, ARCO, GTE, Jackson National Life Insurance, and U-Haul. He has also conducted evaluation research for federally funded drug abuse and crime prevention and treatment programs and for mental health agencies and served on school district advisory boards, as well as on a citizens advisory board for a hospital.
Achievements
He has earned numerous awards starting with Access Producers Achievement Award, Dickenson Cablesystems, for "Kids Broadcasting System News," in 1982, and his most recent being the National Communication Association’s African American Communication & Culture Division's 2003 Distinguished Scholarship Award. Hecht is currently teaching numerous courses in the Communications, Arts and Sciences, and continuing his work with Keepin’ it REAL. He has been on the editorial board of several journals in his subject.
Publications
Books
Baldwin, J.R., Faulkner, S.L., Hecht, M.L. & Lindsley, S.L. . Redefining Culture: Perspectives across the disciplines. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.
Hecht, M.L., Jackson, R.L., & Ribeau, S... Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associate, Inc.
Hecht, M.L., Collier, M.J., &, & Ribeau, S.. African American communication: Ethnic identity and cultural interpretations. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Miller, M.A., Alberts, J.K., Hecht, M.L., Krizek, R.L., & Trost, M.. Adolescent relationships and drug abuse. NY: Erlbaum Publications.
Guerrero, L, DeVito, J.A. & Hecht, M.L. . The nonverbal communication reader: classical and contemporary perspectives. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland.
DeVito, J.A. & Hecht, M.L. . The nonverbal communication reader. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland.
Hecht, M.L.. Communicating prejudice. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Petronio, S., Alberts, J.K., Hecht, M.L., & Buley, J.L. . Contemporary perspectives on interpersonal communication. Dubuque, Iowa: W.C. Brown, Inc.
Others
He has published over 40 peer-reviewed journal articles, and a number of book chapters and, presentations.
