I am an associate professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Missouri. My research examines how communication shapes and sustains relationships in complex, diverse, and modern family structures and experiences. Specifically, I examine discourse dependence and identity formation in range of family forms.
A major focus of my research is communication in adoptive families, examining how parental communication facilitates the formation of an adoptive identity and sustains open adoption relationships with birth families. I also research links between family communication and diverse social identities, such as religion and political identification. My recent work incorporates children's perceptions into my studies of family communication.
A major focus of my research is communication in adoptive families, examining how parental communication facilitates the formation of an adoptive identity and sustains open adoption relationships with birth families. I also research links between family communication and diverse social identities, such as religion and political identification. My recent work incorporates children's perceptions into my studies of family communication.