Communication Faculty and Doctoral Students Present Award Winning Research at the 2026 Kentucky Conference on Health Communication
School of Communication and Information (SC&I) will have a strong and highly visible presence at the 19th biennial Kentucky Conference on Health Communication (KCHC), held April 2–4, 2026, in Lexington, Kentucky. This year’s conference, themed “Health as a Human Right: The Role of Health Communication,” highlights how communication shapes equitable access to healthcare, public health, and community well‑being.
SC&I faculty and doctoral students will share research that advances national conversations on health equity, relational and intercultural communication, community engagement, and patient–provider interaction.
Incoming SC&I Dean William Klein will be represented by co‑authored research examining how communicating conflicting evidence about alcohol and cancer risk influences public trust in science. The presentation will be delivered by Emma A. Jesch, a Cancer Prevention Fellow at the National Cancer Institute and Klein’s mentee and co‑author.
Research Recognized with 2026 Top Conference Paper Award
At the center of SC&I’s contributions is the CommUnity Health Action Lab (CHAL), co-led by Professor of Communication Maria Venetis and Associate Professor Shawnika Hull, who have been informed by conference organizers that they are the recipients of the 2026 Top Conference Paper Award for their study: “Black Women’s Disclosure Motivations, Strategies, and Anticipated Response When Discussing PrEP Uptake with Partners.” The paper appears in the official KCHC program and includes SC&I doctoral co-authors Haley Nolan-Cody, M.J. Salas, Shuxian (Jenny) Mai, Veronika Maria Fischer, and Elizabeth (Liesl) Broadbridge.
This recognition highlights SC&I’s strengths in equity‑driven research and hands‑on mentorship. In addition to the award, SC&I scholars will share competitive papers, posters, and panels across cancer care communication, anti‑racist clinical practice, and health equity.
Faculty and Doctoral Students Presenting at KCHC 2026
Together, our faculty and doctoral students address core challenges in health communication, from improving patient–provider interactions to advancing community‑based solutions.
Communication Faculty Presenters
- Distinguished Professor Kathryn Greene — Greene presents work on communication in cancer care, including patient disclosure and support dynamics, and community‑based participatory research (CBPR) focused on women’s health.
- Associate Professor Shawnika Hull — Hull co‑leads the award‑winning PrEP disclosure project, contributing nationally recognized research on health equity and HIV prevention.
- Associate Professor Matthew Matsaganis — Matsaganis shares research examining how a solidarity outpatient clinic built communication infrastructure “from below” to strengthen community resilience during overlapping crises.
- Associate Professor Lisa Mikesell — Mikesell shares scholarship examining anti‑racist clinical communication and how mental health professionals incorporate equity‑focused practices in therapeutic settings.
- Professor Maria Venetis — Venetis’s scholarship appears across several sessions, including studies on relational health communication, cancer care, and PrEP disclosure, reflecting her focus on how people navigate sensitive health issues.
Doctoral Student Presenters
- Elizabeth (Liesl) Broadbridge — cancer communication; PrEP disclosure
- Veronika Maria Fischer — cancer care communication; PrEP disclosure
- Shuxian (Jenny) Mai — disclosure decision‑making across cultures
- Nicole Mendoza — anti‑racist mental health practice
- Haley Nolan-Cody — chronic and preventive health communication; resilience in Type 2 diabetes
- M.J. Salas — relational dynamics in PrEP disclosure
Together, these scholars embody SC&I’s mission to advance research that improves lives, strengthens communities, and brings communication scholarship to the forefront of public health challenges. To learn more about our school’s research, academic programs, and faculty accomplishments, visit the SC&I website at sci.rutgers.edu.
