About

Allyson L. Wilson is a Ph.D. student in Strategic and Organizational Communication at George Mason University and the Chief Operating Officer of a boutique criminal-defense law firm. Nearly twenty-five years in business management have given her a systems-oriented perspective on legal practice. As COO, she designs and refines the operational framework that supports attorneys and clients in high-stakes environments. Her work emphasizes clarity, care, and consistency aligning daily processes with the firm’s commitments to risk management and an intentional client experience.

 

Her research examines how small, founder-led professional organizations grow, adapt, and make decisions under the pressure of specialized work. She is particularly interested in the evolution of structure, the influence of leadership philosophy on culture, and the emergence of communication practices in the absence of formalized procedures. These questions connect theory to practice, revealing how communication both shapes and reflects organizational life.

 

A complementary line of inquiry, and the focus of her NCA 2025 presentation, explores attorney–client interaction in emotionally complex legal contexts. Wilson studies the moments when communication is clear and ethically sound, yet meaning is shaped by emotion and identity rather than by misunderstanding. Those interactions travel outward through reviews, referrals, and stories, influencing a firm’s reputation and future client expectations.

 

In addition to her administrative and research roles, Wilson has served as a lecturer at George Mason University, where she has engaged students through applied coursework and a commitment to intellectual and professional growth. She has also contributed to scholarly and pedagogical conversations at national and regional conferences.

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Selected Presentations:

 

Wilson, Allyson L., Barrett, Isabelle, & Amoako, Richard. (2022, November 18). Encouraging COVID-19 vaccine uptake among underserved populations using message framing theory [Paper Presentation]. National Communication Association. NCA 108th Annual Convention, New Orleans, LA, United States

 

Wilson, Allyson L. (2020). An undergraduate teaching assistant perspective of Bloom's Taxonomy through a lens of student self-awareness and personal growth. Annual Meeting Virginia Association of Communication Arts and Sciences.