About Elizabeth Johnson-Young
I am an Associate Professor of Communication at the University of Mary Washington within the Department of Communication and Digital Studies. I completed my Ph.D. in Communication, Rhetoric, and Digital Media at North Carolina State University in 2015.
Research
Health Communication Research
My research in health communication bridges personal family dynamics with public health interventions. I am currently examining parent perceptions of pediatric counseling on firearm safety, investigating how families process and act upon clinical guidance. This builds on my ongoing work in maternal health—specifically women’s communication regarding birth trauma—and my previous peer-reviewed studies on the social and digital factors influencing breastfeeding decisions and prenatal body image. Over the past several years, I have collaborated with emergency pediatricians to publish research on the role of anticipatory guidance in firearm safety, aiming to improve communication between healthcare providers and the families they serve.
Teaching & Pedagogy
In the area of communication pedagogy, I focus on collaborative and experiential learning to bridge theory and practice. I am a co-editor of the forthcoming book, Collaborative Team-Based and Experiential Learning: A Path to Student Innovation in Communication (Peter Lang). My commitment to “Great Ideas for Teaching Students” (G.I.F.T.S.) includes developing creative methods to teach the research conceptualization process, which recently received a Top G.I.F.T. Award from the Eastern Communication Association.
[View my current CV for more details.]
Teaching
Since arriving at the University of Mary Washington, I have developed courses in Health Communication, Not-for-Profit Communication Campaigns, and Communication Research Methods. I also enjoy teaching foundational courses like Public Speaking and Small Group Communication, as well as Intro to Rhetoric & Communication.
In addition to my classroom work, I serve as the Associate Director of UMW’s Center for Teaching, where I facilitate faculty workshops, discussions, and peer observations across disciplines to foster pedagogical growth.
Personal
Outside of work, I live in Fredericksburg with my husband, Josh, our two beautiful and hilarious daughters, Hadley and Jillian, and our rambunctious cat, Starlight. I’m a fan of creative nonfiction, cooking (when it’s for fun), and in my downtime, you can find me playing piano, video games, or Dungeons & Dragons with a group of friends.
