Although I consider myself a health communication scholar, my research interests are closely connected to organizational communication. More specifically, I tend to be interested in how health and bodies are defined in discourse about health promotion initiatives and policies. In particular, my research has looked at what the implications of these definitions are for individuals and social institutions. I'm also interested in health activism and social change.
My excitement for learning and being in the classroom stems from my childhood, which was spent in the lovely but snowy Twin Cities area of Minnesota. I earned both a bachelor's degree in Mass Communication and a master's degree in Speech Communication from Minnesota State University, Mankato. I spent a few years working at a public relations agency and in corporate communications for Target after graduating. However, my heart was in academia and I continue to be thankful that it led me to Ohio's graduate program in 2007.
Outside of school, you can typically find me honing my cooking skills, exploring the great outdoors with my bike or a pair of hiking shoes, cheering on my beloved Green Bay Packers, or just enjoying time and conversation with friends and family.