Melissa McNelis, Ph.D.

Melissa (Ph.D.) is an Assistant Professor with experience in teaching both traditional and online courses in a variety of introductory, specialty, and required courses at multiple levels. She applies communication theories and concepts to students’ professional and personal lives in a range of topics including public relations, organizations, groups, interpersonal relationships, nonverbal communication, communication theory, and public speaking. Melissa’s research interests and publications have focused on communication processes situated at the intersection of interpersonal, family, and health communication. She is currently conducting research that focuses on the role of communication in romantic relationships regarding turning points or union transitions in the life course by comparing “gray” divorce cohorts to younger cohorts with varied marital biographies.

Dissertation Title

Exploring Gray Divorce Through Attachment, Communication, and Repartnering

Projects

Conference Papers & Presentations:

McNelis, M. (2016 & 2015, August). Effective listening. Presentation given at the annual meeting for Psychology honors undergraduates who serve as peer mentors. The University of Arizona.

McNelis, M. (2015, November). Celebrity magazine cover headlines: A content analysis comparing gender, infidelity, and dominant thematic frames. Paper will be presented in the Mass Communication Division at the annual meeting of The National Communication Association, Las Vegas, NV.

Segrin, C., McNelis, M., Swiatkowski, P. (2015, November). Social skills, social support, and psychological distress: A test of the social skills deficit vulnerability model. Paper will be presented in the Interpersonal Communication Division at the annual meeting of The National Communication Association, Las Vegas, NV.

Segrin, C., McNelis, M., Swiatkowski, P. (2015, November). Social support indirectly effects problem drinking through reduced psychological distress. Paper will be presented in the Health Communication Division at the annual meeting of The National Communication Association, Las Vegas, NV.

Selected Publications

Segrin, C., McNelis, M., Swiatkowski, P. (2016). Social skills, social support, and psychological distress: A test of the social skills deficit vulnerability model. Human Communication Research. 42, 122-137.

Segrin, C., McNelis, M., Swiatkowski, P. (2016). Social support indirectly effects problem drinking through reduced psychological distress. Substance Use and Misuse, 51, 608-615.

Badger, T., Segrin, C., Swiatkowski, P., McNelis, M., Weihs, K., Lopez, A. (2016). Why Latinas with breast cancer select specific informal caregivers to participate with them in psychosocial interventions. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 1-7. DOI: 10.1177/1043659616656391