Department of Speech Communication
The University of Georgia
145 Terrell Hall
Athens, GA 30602
(706) 542-3250
kmweber@uga.edu
EDUCATION
Ph.D., Communication Arts and Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, 2009
Dissertation: Making a Treatment Decision for Breast Cancer: Associations among Marital Qualities, Couple Communication, and Breast Cancer Treatment Decision OptionsM.A., Communication Arts and Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, 2006
Thesis: Locating Relationship and Communication Issues among Stressors Associated with Breast CancerB.A., Communication Arts and Sciences, Michigan State University, 2003
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2009 – Present Assistant Professor, University of Georgia 2006 – 2008 Instructor, Pennsylvania State University 2004 – 2006 Research Assistant, Pennsylvania State University 2003 – 2004 Instructor and Research Assistant, University of Wisconsin-Madison
RESEARCH SUPPORT
PSU Communication Arts & Sciences Dissertation Award. Couple Communication and Breast Cancer Treatment Decisions ($1000), summer 2008.
Joseph M. Juran Center for Leadership in Quality Fellowship. Couple Communication and Breast Cancer Treatment Decisions (not funded), spring 2008.
PSU Communication Arts & Sciences Semester Teaching Release with continued compensation, Spring 2008.
PSU College of the Liberal Arts, Research and Graduate Studies Office research grant. Information Behavior during Breast Cancer Treatment Decisions ($1,500), 2007.
PSU Communication Arts & Sciences Research Award. Information Selection during Breast Cancer Treatment Decisions ($1,200), 2007.
PSU Communication Arts & Sciences Research Award. Communicative and Relational Stressors for Those Touched by Breast Cancer ($1,200), 2005.
AWARDS FOR SCHOLARSHIP
Twenty-Third Annual PSU Graduate Exhibition, Third Prize in the Social and Behavioral Sciences ($150), 2008.
PSU Communication Arts & Sciences travel awards ($150 - $550), 2004, 2006, 2007, & 2008.
PSU Communication Arts & Sciences funding for advanced methods training. Qualitative Research Summer Intensive, hosted by ResearchTalk, Inc. ($500), 2006.
PSU Research and Graduate Studies Office travel funds award ($75), 2006.
Kentucky Conference on Health Communication graduate student travel scholarship ($500), 2006.
PUBLICATIONS
Solomon, D. H., Weber, K. M., Steuber, K. (2009). Turbulence in relational transitions. In S. W. Smith and S. R. Wilson (Eds.) New directions in interpersonal communication (pp. 115-134). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Weber, K. M. & Solomon, D. H. (2008). Locating relationship and communication issues among stressors associated with breast cancer. Health Communication, 23, 548-559.
Dillard, J., Weber, K. M., & Grillova, R. (2007). The relationship between the perceived and actual effectiveness of persuasive messages: A meta-analysis. Human Communication Research, 57, 613 – 631.
MANUSCRIPTS IN PREPARATION
Weber, K. M. & Solomon, D. H. Breast cancer as a relationship transition. In M. Miller‐Day (Ed.). “Going through this together”: Family communication, connection, and health transitions. [Under review]. Hampton Press.
Weber, K. M. & Solomon, D. H. A relational turbulence model of distress and communication associated with breast cancer. [Under review]. Personal Relationships.
Weber, K. M. & Solomon, D. H. Mood and the communication experiences of breast cancer survivors. [Under review]. Psycho‐Oncology.
Weber, K. M. & Solomon, D. H. What information is being used to make breast cancer treatment decisions? [Manuscript being revised for publication]
Weber, K. M. & Solomon, D. H. The relational turbulence model and treatment decisions for breast cancer. [Manuscript being revised for publication].
High, A., Solomon, D. H., & Weber, K. M. Tailoring social support messages to BIS/BAS orientation. [Manuscript being revised for publication].
PRESENTATIONS AT PROFESSIONAL MEETINGS
Weber, K. M. & Solomon, D. H. (2009, November). Hopefulness and the communication experiences of breast cancer survivors. Paper to be presented at the 95th annual meeting of the National Communication Association, Interpersonal Communication Divisions, Chicago, IL.
Weber, K. M. & Solomon, D. H. (2008, November). What information is being used to make breast cancer treatment decisions? Paper presented at the 94th annual meeting of the National Communication Association, Family and Health Communication Divisions, San Diego, CA.
Weber, K. M., Solomon, D. H., & Goodwin, A. (2008, April). Relational and communicative stressors among breast cancer patients. Paper presented at the 10th biennial Kentucky Conference of Health Communication, Lexington, KY.
Solomon, D. H., Weber, K. M., & Steuber, K. R. (2007, November). A relational turbulence model perspective on interpersonal conflict communication. Paper presented at the 93rd annual meeting of the National Communication Association, Interpersonal Communication Division, Chicago, IL.
Weber, K. M. & Solomon, D. H. (2007, November). A relational turbulence model of distress and communication associated with breast cancer. Paper presented at the 93rd annual meeting of the National Communication Association, Interpersonal Communication Division, Chicago, IL. [Top Paper]
Weber, K. M. (2007, October). Understanding breast cancer as a relational transition. Paper presented at the 68th annual conference of the Pennsylvania Communication Association, State College, PA.
Dillard, J., Weber, K. M., & Grillova, R. (2006, November). The relationship between the perceived and actual effectiveness of persuasive messages: A meta-analysis. Paper presented at the 92nd annual meeting of the National Communication Association, San Antonio, TX.
Weber, K. M. & Solomon, D. H. (2006, April). Locating relationship and communication issues among stressors associated with breast cancer. Paper presented at the 9th biennial Kentucky Conference of Health Communication, Lexington, KY.
RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIP ACTIVITY
Clinical and Translational Science Award grant proposal development (Spring 2008). Gathered, reviewed, and summarized research on treatment decision making for a diagnosis of breast cancer, including information on how these decisions are shaped by patient-practitioner and patient-partner communication.
Center for Excellence in Cancer Communication Research grant proposal development (Fall 2007). Located, reviewed, and summarized research on the burden of side effects (e.g., quality of life, depression) for the partner of patients who experience pain, fatigue, and depression in association with cancer, and summarized information on the problems created when partners over- or under-estimate pain, fatigue, or depression in patients diagnosed with a severe illness (e.g., cancer).
Collaborative Information Behavior during Breast Cancer Decisions funded grant proposal($4,000, 2007). Gathered, reviewed, and summarized research on the sources, types, and forms of information breast cancer survivors draw upon when making treatment decisions to inform the grant proposal; currently responsible for implementing the funded study.
Relationships, Communication, and Breast Cancer Survivors’ Sexual Identity grant proposal (2006). I gathered, reviewed, and summarized research on extent to which community population characteristics (i.e., rural or urban locations) predict distress about body image and sexuality.
Relationships, Communication, and Sexuality among Rural and Urban Breast Cancer Survivors grant proposal (2006). I reviewed and documented research on body image distress and sexual dysfunction among breast cancer survivors.
Breast Cancer and Couple Communication funded grant proposal ($3,892, 2005). I researched and reviewed literature on the interplay of couple communication, interpersonal relationship stressors, and breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. I also implemented the study, which involved a qualitative analysis of discussion board and weblog posts revealing stressors that breast cancer patients experience throughout the trajectory of their diagnosis.
An Exploration of Decision-making Processes, Relationship Tensions, and Communication Patterns between Breast Cancer Patients and their Spouses grant proposal (2005). I identified, reviewed, and summarized literature on the relationship difficulties that emerge for cancer survivors.
Personal Relationship Tensions, Patterns of Communication and Breast Cancer Decision Making grant proposal (2005). I identified, reviewed, and summarized literature on problematic relationship events that that arise for cancer survivors and communication patterns that facilitate adjustment to breast cancer.
TEACHING
Independent Instructor
Spring 2009 Interpersonal Communication Theories (SPCM 3500) Spring 2009 Communication Research Methods (SPCM 3700) Fall 2008 Conflict in the Classroom (CAS 497E) Summer 2008 Effective Speech within Groups (CAS 100b) Fall 2007 Communication & Information Technology (CAS 283)
Effective Speech within Groups (CAS 100b)Summer 2007 Effective Speech within Groups (CAS 100b) Spring 2007 Communication & Information Technology (CAS 283) Summer 2006 Effective Speech (CAS 100a) Spring 2006 Communication Skills for Interpersonal Conflict (CAS 498b) Summer 2004 Interpersonal Communication (CA 272) Teaching Assistant
Fall 2008 Communication & Information Technology (CAS 283) Fall 2008 Conflict Negotiation (CAS 404) Fall 2006 Communication & Information Technology (CAS 283) Spring 2004 Interpersonal Communication (CA 272) Fall 2003 Interpersonal Communication (CA 272)
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Doctoral Honors Seminar, 2006
Prepared and presented original work at conference. Presented written and verbal critiques on papers authored by other attending doctoral students. Hosted by Purdue University.
Qualitative Workshop on Coding, 2006
Day seminar on qualitative coding techniques hosted by Research Talk, Inc.
Grant Writing Course, Spring 2006
Semester long course on all aspects of grant writing. Taken at the Pennsylvania State University.
Grant Writing Workshop, Fall 2004
Day seminar hosted by the graduate school at the Pennsylvania State University
Instructional Training Course, Fall 2004
Department of Communication Arts and Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University. Participated in course designed to assist graduate students in developing course material, lesson plans, student evaluations, and increasing teaching skills generally
Summer Training for Teachers, Summer 2003
College of Letters and Science, University of Wisconsin, Madison
Participated in the summer training for new teaching assistants for the College of Letters and Science
SERVICE
To the Department
Professional Development Officer for Graduate Forum, May 2007 – May 2008
The Pennsylvania State University, Department of CAS.
To Professional Associations
Panel Chair, 2007 November
2007 meeting of the National Communication Association in Chicago, IL
Panel Chair, 2006 November
2006 meeting of the National Communication Association in San Antonio, TX
Conference Paper Distribution Center Assistant, Fall 2004
2004 meeting of the National Communication Association in Chicago, IL
Assisted in conference check-in for the 2004 meeting of NCA
Conference Staff Assistant, Summer 2004
2004 meeting of the International Association for Relationship Researchers, Madison, WI
Assisted in conference organization and check-in
To the Discipline
New Scholar Reviewer, Personal Relationships, (2005 – present)
Reviewed and evaluated manuscripts submitted to Personal Relationships (a journal of the International Association of Relationship Researchers)
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