Professional Title
Assistant Professor
Education
Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin, Health and Interpersonal Communication, 2020
M.A., University of Texas at San Antonio, Communication Studies, 2014
Personal Statement
I was born and raised in China and moved to the U.S. in 2012 for my graduate studies in communication. I chose to work in academia because I enjoy the independence of conducting research I am passionate about and the intellectual and stimulating interactions with colleagues and students. You can find me hiking, baking, watercolor painting, or simply spending as much time as possible with my family in my spare time.Â
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I teach courses in interpersonal and health communication on topics including close relationships, uncertainty, and social support. I also teach courses in quantitative and qualitative research methods. I believe communication is fundamental to a fulfilling life, so I strive to help students apply communication knowledge and skills and critical thinking to achieving their career and personal goals.
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Broadly, my research is conceptualized at the intersection of health and interpersonal communication. My current research centers around examining individuals’ communication and experience of uncertainty in close relationships and health care settings. I work on addressing two overarching research questions: 1. How do people make sense of uncertainty in different relationship and health care contexts? 2. What are the cognitive, emotional, and communicative processes or factors that shape one’s sensemaking of uncertainty? You can find my published work in journals such as Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, Health Communication, and Patient Education and Counseling.Â
Courses Taught
COMM 3400 - Health Communication
COMM 4220 - Interpersonal Communication and Health