Communication Studies PhD student Elle Johnson has been named as a recipient of a Graduate School Dean's Award for her dissertation project. Johnson's dissertation is entitled "Avoiding the Pandemic: Investigating Changes in Stress Following Supportive Conversations about COVID-19". This timely study will investigate how interpersonal support and problem-solving communications can help participants to cope with the chronic stress associated with this pandemic. Johnson will expand upon research in the understudied area of interaction level communication analysis. The study will go beyond the general conversation label of "supportive" and identify ways in which avoidance or perception of avoidance affect stress reduction between partners. Congratulations to Elle Johnson for this award in recognition of her outstanding academic record and well-developed dissertation research. Type of News/Audience: Department Award
