Doctoral Dissertation Topics

Spring 2017 Doctoral Graduates

Spring 2017 Doctoral Graduates Photo Credit: Aida Gonzalez

2017-2019 Graduates

Doctoral Student:  Dr. Theodore Albiniak
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Josh Gunn (Rhetoric & Language)
Plant Figurations: A Vital Study in Rhetorical Address Following Theodor W. Adorno​
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Joseph Brentlinger
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Barry Brummett (Rhetoric & Language)
On Content: Busking in the Digital Age​​
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Robert Carroll
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Anita Vangelisti (Interpersonal)
Coming Out(Comes): Analyzing Coming Out Messages in a Familial Context​ 
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Sohyun Choi
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Talia Stroud (Rhetoric & Language/Political Communication)
Anatomy of Emotions in Politics:  The Role of Discrete Emotions in Political Information Search and Participation​
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Alex Curry
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Talia Stroud (Rhetoric & Language/Political Communication)
Major League Sports Teams as Storytellers: A Communication Infrastructure Perspective​
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Jane Haas Damron
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Erin Donovan (Interpersonal)
A Qualitative Exploration of Daughters' Reports of Supportive and Unsupportive Responses from their Mothers during the Transition from College to Career
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Tasha Ford Davis
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Dawna Ballard (Org Comm & Technology)
A Temporal Perspective on Flexible Careers: Reconciling Multiple Perspectives, Levels of Analysis, and Time Scales
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Seth Frei
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Keri Stephens (Org Comm & Technology)
Changing Careers: How Newcomers Seek Information in Three Types of Career Transitions  
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Matthew Ingram
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Jürgen Streeck (Rhetoric & Language)
The Mimesis of Character in Political Rally Speeches: Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump in the 2016 Presidential Campaign​
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Sakina Jangbar
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Rick Cherwitz (Rhetoric & Language)
Rhetorical Silence: An Emerging Genre
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Dron Mandhana
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Dawna Ballard (Org Comm & Technology)
Unplanned Conversations at Work
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Thomas McVey
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Dawna Ballard (Org Comm & Technology)
Balancing Personalities and Perspectives Among Cross-Functional Project Teams: A Narrative Analysis of Interactions and Work Handoffs from the Viewpoints of Different Activity Cycles
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Melissa Murphy
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Joshua Barbour (Org Comm & Technology)
Startup Storytelling: An Analysis of Narrative In Rewards and Equity Based Crowdfunding Campaigns
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Jaishikha Nautiyal
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Scott Stroud (Rhetoric & Language)
Quotidian Rhetoric: An Impasse of Deweyan Aesthetics and Affective Encounters 
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Madeleine Redlick
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Anita Vangelisti (Interpersonal)
Beyond the Eye of the Beholder: Perceived Gender Role Departure in Close Relationships​                     
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Marnie Ritchie
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Josh Gunn (Rhetoric & Language)
Diffuse Threats: US Counterterrorism as an Anxious Affective Infrastructure​
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Shawn Smith
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Michael Butterworth (Rhetoric & Language)
Black Economic Empowerment: Booker T. Washington and Rhetorical Intervention in Markets​
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. William R. Smith
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Jeffrey Treem (Org Comm & Technology)
Communicative Elements of Fluid Collective Organizing
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Mao-Chia Sun
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Anita Vangelisti (Interpersonal)
The Positive Side of Hurtful Communication: When Hurt Feelings Improve Close Relationships​
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Sarah Tardif
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Erin Donovan (Interpersonal)
The Experience of Uncertainty in Infertility
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. LaRae Tronstad
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Jeffrey Treem (Org Comm & Technology)
Defining the Communicative Work, Roles, and Inclusion in Patient- Majority Boards ​
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Zhengyu (Tracy) Zhang
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Anita Vangelisti (Interpersonal)
The Role of Imagined Interaction in Individuals' Secret Revelations: A Focus on Targets' Anticipated Reactions
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Yaguang Zhu
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Keri Stephens (Org Comm & Technology)
Participation in Online Health Communities and Perceived Social Support: Elaborating Participation Types, Identification, and Interpersonal  Bonds

                                                                

2016-2017 Graduates

Doctoral Student:  Dr. Brandon Anderson
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Rick Cherwitz (Rhetoric & Language)
The Enduring Legacy Of Lost Cause Discourses: A Generic Exploration Of Shared Identity And Collective Action In Movement Rhetoric                                                                                 
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Kristen Farris
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Erin Donovan (Interpersonal)
The Impacts Of Recurring Supportive Interactions On Couples' Psychological, Relational, And Health Outcomes In The Context Of Rheumatic Diseases  
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Elizabeth Glowacki
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Jay Bernhardt (Interpersonal)
Tailored Texts: An Application Of Regulatory Fit To Text Messages Designed To Reduce High-Risk Drinking         
                                                                            
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Jenna Hanchey
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Josh Gunn (Rhetoric & Language)
Giving it Away:  Rhetoric and Reflexivity in International Aid
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Matthew Morris
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Josh Gunn (Rhetoric & Language)
Virtual Movements:  Populist Rhetoric, Technology, And Hegemony
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Emily Scheinfeld
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Erin Donvan (Interpersonal)
There's Something About Health: Understanding Everyday Talk About Health Within Families 
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Max Wartel
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Matt McGlone (Interpersonal)
Smoke Signals:  Patterns of Agency Assignment in Smoking Initiation and Cessation Narratives
 

2015-2016 Graduates

Doctoral Student:  Dr. Allison Alford
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Madeline Maxwell (Interpersonal)
Daughtering And Daughterhood: An Exploratory Study Of The Role Of Adult Daughters In Relation To Mothers
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Lamiyah Bahrainwala
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Barry Brummett (Rhetoric & Language)
Where Time & Style Collide: The Muslim In U.S. Discourse
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Laura Barberena
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Rod Hart (Rhetoric & Language)
Rhetorical Dimensions Of Movement Empathy: A Case Study Of The 2006 Immigration Marches
 
Doctoral Student: Dr. Ashley Barrett
Dissertation Supervisor: Dr. Keri Stephens (Organizational Communication and Technology)
Change Is Inevitable But Compliance Is Optimal: Co-Worker Social Influence And Behavioral Work-Arounds In The EHR Implementation Of Health Care Organizations
 
Doctoral Student: Dr. Jeff Birdsell
Dissertation Supervisor: Dr. Larry Browning (Organizational Communication and Technology)
Dogging It At Work: Developing And Performing Organizational Routines As A Minor League Baseball Mascot
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Kate Blackburn
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Matt McGlone (Interpersonal)
The Narrative Arc: Exploring The Linguistic Structure Of Narrative   
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Laura Brown
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Erin Donovan (Interpersonal)
Modeling Lesbian, Gay, And Bisexual Patient Disclosures: An Exploration Of The Role Of Memorable Messages, Past Experiences, Perceived Visibility, Screening Behaviors, And Efficacy
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Roy Christopher
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Barry Brummett (Rhetoric & Language)
Allusions Of Grandeur: Figurative Language Use In Rap Lyrics
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Jacob Ford
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Jeff Treem (Organizational Communication & Technology)
Managing Multiple (Dis) Identifications: Questioning The Desirability And Utility Of Identification In Volunteer Work
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Jessica Ford
Dissertation Superivsor:  Dr. Keri Stephens (Organizational Communication & Technology)
Am I In Danger Here? Incorporating Organizational Communication Into An Extended Model Of Risk Information Seeking At Work
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Brittani Crook
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Rene Dailey (Interpersonal)
Exploring Memorable Messages About The Misuse Of Prescription Stimulants: Predicting Behavioral Intention And Illicit Stimulant Use
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Jessica Knapp
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Rene Dailey (Interpersonal)
Perceived Effectiveness Of Grief Comforting Messages Moderated By Closeness
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Robert Mack
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Josh Gunn (Rhetoric and Language)
The Boob Tube: Television, Object Relations, And The Rhetoric Of Projective Identification
 
Doctoral Student: Dr. Michael Moode
Dissertation Supervisor: Dr. Dawna Ballard (Organizational Communication & Technology)
Can Organizational Communication Strategies That Activate Associations With Mindfulness And Flow Enhance Novel-Idea Production In An Open- Ended Problem-Solving Task
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Erin Nelson
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Erin Donovan (Interpersonal)
"I Have Cancer:" Understanding The Decision To Disclose To Family Members Using Their Theory Of Motivated Information Management
 
Doctoral Student: Dr. Angie Pastorek
Dissertation Supervisor: Dr. Larry Browning (Organizational Communication and Technology)
Organizational Exit Dynamics In Times Of Turbulence: Let Me Tell You The Story Of How My High Hopes Were Let Down
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Cynthia Peacock
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Talia Stroud (Rhetoric & Language)
Talking Politics: Political Opinion Expression And Avoidance Across Conservative, Liberal, And Heterogeneous Groups
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Danielle Pye
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Scott Stroud (Rhetoric & Language)
Eloquence In A New Key: Toward A Theory Of Presentational Communication
 
Doctoral Student: Dr. Kayla Rhidenour
Dissertation Supervisor: Dr. Josh Gunn (Rhetoric and Language)
The Mediated Veteran: How News Souces Narrate The Pain And Potential Of Returning Soldiers
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Maegan Stephens
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Sharon Jarvis (Rhetoric & Language)
Trust Me: How The Gop Talked Americans Out Of Trusting
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Kristin Stimpson
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Barry Brummett (Rhetoric & Language)
Gentrification By Design: Rhetoric, Race, And Style In Neighborhood "Revitalization"
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Emiko Taniguchi
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Rene Dailey (Interpersonal)
Parental Confirmation And Emerging Adult Children's Body Image: Self-Concept And Social Competence As Mediators
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Eric Waters
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Keri Stephens (Organizational Communication & Technology)
The Language Of Legitimacy: The Role Of Institutionalism In Entrepreneurial Discourse
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Heba-T-Allah Wagdi Zeid
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Larry Browning (Organizational Communication & Technology)
The Zone Of Narrative Safety: Between Agency And Authenticity

 

2014 Graduates

Doctoral Student: Dr. Joseph Faina
Dissertation Supervisor: Dr. Barry Brummett (Rhetoric & Language)

New Media Is A Joke: Tracing Irony, Satire, And Remediation In Online Discourse

Doctoral Student: Dr. Joseph McGlynn
Dissertation Supervisor: Dr. Matthew McGlone (Interpersonal)

Don't Tell Me Who To Blame: Persuasive Effects Of Implicit Arguments In Obesity Messages On Attributions Of Responsibility And Policy Support

Doctoral Student: Dr. John Thompson
Dissertation Supervisor: Dr. Barry Brummett (Rhetoric & Language)

Voices Of Pluralist Democracy: A Rhetorical Framework Of Unity And Difference

Doctoral Student: Dr. Josh Scacco
Dissertation Supervisor: Dr. Talia Stroud (Rhetoric & Language)

Presidential Prediction: The Strategic Construction And Influence Of Expectation Frames

Doctoral Student: Dr. Mary Anne Taylor
Dissertation Supervisor: Dr. Barry Brummett (Rhetoric & Language)
She The People: Personal Politics And Feminist Advocacy As The Democratic Ideal
 
Doctoral Student: Dr. Stephanie Dailey
Dissertation Supervisor: Dr. Keri Stephens (Organizational Comm and Technology)

What Happens Before Full-Time Employment? Internships As A Mechanism Of Anticipatory Socialization

Doctoral Student: Dr. Leah LeFebvre
Dissertation Supervisor: Dr. Rene Dailey (Interpersonal)

Examining Individual And Joint Sense-Making In Stressful Relational Narratives

Doctoral Student: Dr. Emily Richardson
Dissertation Supervisor: Dr. Madeline Maxwell (Interpersonal)

Communication Challenges In Family Violence Court: An Ethnography Of Protective Order Hearings

2013 Graduates

Doctoral Student: Dr. Tatsuya Imai
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Rene Dailey (Interpersonal)
The Influence Of Stigma Of Mental Illnesses On Decoding And Encodting Of Verbal And Nonverbal Messages
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Lynsey Kluever Romo
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Rene Dailey (Interpersonal)
"In This Day And Age, You Just Don't Know": An Examination Of How People In Romantic Relationships Use Communication To Manage Financial Uncertainty
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Preeti Mudliar
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Larry Browning (Organizational Comm and Technology)
The Curiosities Of Participation: A Village's Practice Of Participatory Governance
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Andrew Tollison
Dissertation Supervisor:   Dr. Matt McGlone (Interpersonal)
Stereotype Threat In Male Nurse-Patient Interactions
 
Doctoral Student: Dr. Clariza Ruiz de Castilla
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Barry Brummett (Rhetoric and Language)
Citizenship Constructions: Rhetoric, Immigration, And Arizona's Sb1070
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Nicholas Brody
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Anita Vangelisti (Interpersonal)
Bystander Intervention In Cyberbullying
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Colene Lind
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Rod Hart (Rhetoric and Language)
The Common Style In American Politics: A Rhetorical Analysis Of Ordinary, Exceptional Leadership
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Ashley Mack
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr.  (Rhetoric and Language)
Disciplining Mommy: Rhetorics Of Reproduction In Contemporary Maternity Culture
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Tiara Na’puti
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr.  (Rhetoric and Language)
Charting Contemporary Chamoru Activism: Anti-Militarization & Social Movements In Guahan
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Sean Tiffee
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Joshua Gunn (Rhetoric and Language)
Trauma And The Rhetoric Of Horror Films: The Rise Of Torture Porn In A Post Nine-Eleven World
 
Doctoral Student: Dr. Charee Mooney Thompson
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Anita Vangelisti (Interpersonal)
What Happens When The Standard For Openness Goes Unmet In Romantic Relationships?: Cross-Sectionall And Longitudinal Analyses Of Stress, Coping, And Individual And Relationship Consequences
 
Doctoral Student: Dr. Nicholas Merola
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Matt McGlone (Interpersonal)
We Like People Who Are Easy To Read: The Influence Of Processing Fluency In Impression Formation
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Ashlyn Gentry
Dissertation Supervisor: Dr. Richard Cherwitz (Rhetoric and Language)

Executive Rhetoric: An Analysis Of Reagan, Bush, And Clinton

Doctoral Student:  Dr. Elizabeth Goins
Dissertation Supervisor: Dr. Larry Browning (Organizational Comm and Technology)
The Norwegian Success Story: Narrative Applications Of Interpretation, Understanding, & Communication In Complex Organizational Systems
 
Doctoral Student: Dr. Ashley Muddiman
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Talia Stroud (Rhetoric and Language)
The Instability Of Incivility: How News Frames And Citizen Perceptions Shape Conflict In American Politics
 
Doctoral Student: Dr. Zazil Reyes Garcia
Dissertation Supervisor: Dr.  (Rhetoric and Language)
Nagging Mothers And Monstrous Teachers: Female Politicians In Political Cartoons A Comparative Analysis Between Mexico And The U.S.
 
Doctoral Student: Dr. Valerie Thatcher
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Barry Brummett (Rhetoric and Language)
The Atypical Environmentalist: The Rhetoric Of Environmentalist Identity And Citizenship In The Texas Coal Plant Opposition Movement
 
Doctoral Student: Dr. Connie Young Johnson
Dissertation Supervisor: Dr. Barry Brummett (Rhetoric and Language)
Barack Obama And The Rhetoric Of A Black President

2012 Graduates

Doctoral Student:   Dr. Kathleen Feyh
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Barry Brummett (Rhetoric and Language)
Russian Hip-Hop: Rhetoric At The Intersection Of Style And Globalization
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Erik Green
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Madeline Maxwell (Interpersonal)
Conflict Mediation Discourse Examined Through A Girardian Lens: Weapons And Wounds In Conflict Talk
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Gamze Erturk Yilmaz
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Jorge Pena (Organizational Comm and Technology)
The Influence Of Interpersonal Behaviors And Social Categories On Language Use In Virtual Teams
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Abigail Heller
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Keri Stephens (Organizational Comm and Technology)
Communicative Strategies For Organizational Survival: An Analysis Of Stereotype Threat Of Women In Petroleum Engineering
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Sarah Vartabedian
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr.  (Rhetoric and Language)
Working Through A Monumental Break Up: Ideological Transitions, Ironic Monumental Disruptions, And Public Deliberation
 
Doctoral Student: Dr. Dina Inman Ramgolam
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Dawna Ballard (Organizational Comm and Technology)
Time And Technical Impressions: Exploring The Relationships Between Temporal Experience, Communication Practices, And Impression Management In The Contemporary Workplace
 
Doctoral Student: Dr. Flor Madero
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Madeline Maxwell (Interpersonal)
Look At Me Now!: Exploring Identity Narratives Of First Generation, Mexican-American College Students
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Andrew Ishak
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Larry Browning (Organizational Comm and Technology)
Time Out: Organizational Training For Improvisation In Live-Saving Critical Teams
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Leah Ross
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Barry Brummett (Rhetoric and Language)
A Rhetoric Of Instrumentality: Documentary Film In The Landscape Of Public Memory
 
Doctoral Student: Dr. Trey Guinn
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Anita Vangelisti (Interpersonal)
Emerging Adult Friendship: A Consequence Of Family Communication And Catalyst For Well-Being
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Katherine Kapurch
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Barry Brummett (Rhetoric and Language)
Unconditionally And At The Heart's Core: Twilight, Neo-Victorian Melodrama, And Popular Girl Culture

2011 Graduates

Doctoral Student:  Dr. Jaehee Cho
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Dawna Ballard (Organizational Comm and Technology)
Employees' Information-Seeking Behaviors In Multicultural Contexts: Development Of An Advanced Model Including Information Overload, Team- Level Factors, And Cultural Backgrounds
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Alexa Hampel
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Anita Vangelisti (Interpersonal)
Serial Hurt In Romantic Relationships: Toward An Understanding Of Recurring Hurtful Interactions
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Roger Davis Gatchet
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Joshua Gunn (Rhetoric and Language)
The Struggle For Authenticity: Blues, Race, And Rhetoric
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Eiko Yasui
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Jurgen Streeck (Rhetoric and Language)
Negotiating Story Entry: A Micro-Analytic Study Of Storytelling Projection In English And Japanese
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Emily Balanoff Jones
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Rod Hart (Rhetoric and Language)
A Special, Set-Apart Place No Longer? The Rhetoric Of Modern Nonprofit Organizations
 
Doctoral Student: Dr. Kimberly Shaefer
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Rene Dailey (Interpersonal)
Online Romantic Relationships Transitioning Offline: Impact Of Intimacy And Relationship Uncertainty On Relational Characteristics
 
Doctoral Student: Dr. Randolph Wilt
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Madeline Maxwell (Interpersonal)
Where The Difference Lies: Nursing Conflict Themes And The Role Of Facework Tactics In Nursing Interactions
 
Doctoral Student:  Dr. Angela Niedermyer
Dissertation Supervisor:  Dr. Anita Vangelisti (Interpersonal)
An Investigation Of The Association Between Secrecy Characteristics, Trust, And The Reasons Romantic Partners Report For Discussing Expectations Regarding Secrecy