I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication at North Carolina State University. My training has been in interpersonal health communication, particularly the communication practices and processes relevant to primary and secondary HIV and STI prevention. My research to date has examined central communication processes, such as social support, disclosure, and safer sex negotiation, in an applied context and has explored the potential for research on strategic message design for improving HIV secondary prevention programs and interventions. My dissertation, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (grant no. F31MH078787-01A1), explored the meanings and dilemmas of sexual communication and issues of sexual safety for transgender individuals. Current projects include meta-syntheses of the literatures on HIV disclosure and HIV stigma and an interview study with women living with HPV.
Over the course of my career, I have assisted with and served as the teacher of record for classes at North Carolina State University, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Parkland College, and the University of Texas at Austin. I've taught a variety of courses, including communication theory, interpersonal communication, interpersonal health communication, interviewing, public speaking, and conflict resolution.
When I'm not working, I enjoy volunteering, playing with my pugs, and taking in as much pop culture as possible (to keep up with my students, of course!).
