Bio
Courses
- COMST 2110: Interpersonal Communication
- COMST 2180: Communication & Conflict Management
- COMST 4120 & 5120: Health Communication
Teaching
I have taught a variety of courses both in-person and online, including Interpersonal Communication, Communication and Conflict Management, Human Communication Theory, Professional Communication, and Health Communication. As a qualitative scholar, I have recognized that, similar to my research program, good teaching is a reflexive process where improvement is always the goal. Every lecture, activity, assignment, project, or exam can always be better. The best teachers identify ways to improve their material, even in the courses they have taught dozens of times before. At the conclusion of each semester, I review the previous semesters’ successes and failures based on student evaluations and my own personal assessment of that particular course. I also stay current with research in the field, so as to incorporate evidence-based scholarship and practice into my examples and class discussions. Additionally, I include contemporary examples from social media and traditional news outlets to ensure that course content is current, meaningful, and relevant. These exemplars provide students with a real-world application that may further one’s understanding of course concepts and its relevance to their everyday lives. In recognition of my teaching efforts, I have been awarded several University awards, including the Student Impact Award from the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (2025), the Faculty Inspiration Award from the ISU Alumni Association (2024), and the COVID-19 Exceptional Team Effort Award (2021) for my contributions with ISU Leadership during the pandemic. Additionally, I have developed two online courses (COMST 2180 and COMST 4120/5120). Both courses have earned Quality Matters Certification, a national peer review process for ensuring quality online and blended learning courses. Presently, only 25 courses at Iowa State have earned this national recognition.
Research
My experiences at Iowa State University have enabled me to mentor and advise undergraduate students pursuing independent research credits. This experience has culminated in the development of the Family Health Communication research lab, where I work in collaboration with undergraduate students, community partners, and scholars throughout the United States to conduct evidence-based, translational research on families’ communication needs as they navigate health and illness together. This research has been competitively selected and presented at the Research at the State Capitol, ISU Undergraduate Research Symposium, Central States Communication Association, Kentucky Health Communication Conference, Institute for Reproductive Grief Care, and the National Communication Association Conference. Additionally, I have competitively earned $80,000 in grants to support my research. In 2024, I was awarded Top Scholar by ScholarGPS, an online analytics platform that recognizes Top Scholars for their outstanding performance in various Fields, Disciplines, and Specialties. My scholarly contributions have placed me in the top 0.5% of all scholars worldwide in the field of chronic conditions.
Selected Publications
Personal
I enjoy weightlifting, pilates, cooking, traveling throughout the US and internationally, and spending quality time with my husband and six kids.