Communication, Media & Theatre Arts

Biography

Dr. Elton joined the faculty in 2009. While pursuing her doctorate at Purdue University, Dr. Elton spent two years working at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention working in the Emergency Communication Branch. At EMU, Dr. Elton primarily teaches health communication, communication theory, and small group communication courses. Her areas of expertise include health communication, end-of-life decision making, qualitative research methods, and social constructions of health. In addition to presenting her research at international, national, and regional conferences, Dr. Elton has published her research in various journals, including Journal of Family Communication, Death Studies, Family Relations, and The Gerontologist.

Education

• Ph.D., Health Communication, Purdue University, 2011
• MA, Intercultural Communication, University of Denver, 2003
• BA, English Literature, University of Nevada, 2001

Courses

• COMM 227 Interpersonal Communication
• COMM 310 Health Communication
• COMM 359 Small Group Communication
• COMM 485W Communication Theory
• COMM 552 Communication in Health and Illness Contexts

Advising

Professional Affiliations

• National Communication Association
• Organization for the Study of Communication, Language, and Gender
• American Public Health Association