Elizabeth Johnson-Young is an Assistant Professor of Communication in the department of English, Linguistics, and Communication. Her research centers on health communication and media. This leads to questions such regarding content, as well as personal and mediated discussions of the issues. Using mostly quantitative and qualitative social science methods, she researches how and why people use media, what the media content and landscape is, and how those and other communication forms impact health perceptions and behaviors. Her recent work focuses on maternal and family health, including breastfeeding intentions and body image, as well as a project in collaboration with pediatricians concerning pediatrician-patient communication regarding firearm access. At UMW, Dr. Johnson-Young has been teaching communication research methods, public communication campaigns, gender and communication, digital rhetoric, small group communication, and public speaking. Outside of work, she lives with her husband, Josh, and two wild and fun daughters, Hadley and Jillian.
