Faculty Profile for Dr. Tricia Burke

profile photo for Dr. Tricia Burke
Dr. Tricia Burke
Associate Professor — Department of Communication Studies
CENT 205
phone: (512) 245-4064
Scholarly/Creative Work
Awards
Grants
Service

Biography Section

Biography and Education

 I received my B.A. (2005), M.A. (2007), and Ph.D. (2012) in Communication from the University of Arizona. When I am not teaching or researching, I enjoy spending time with my partner, Kevin; our son, Charlie; and our pup. We love sunshine, mountains, music, and the beautiful San Marcos River.

Teaching Interests

 My scholarship shapes my teaching perspective and contributes to my passion for and dedication to teaching the fantastic students at Texas State. My teaching philosophy is fairly simple: I aspire to be the kind of teacher from whom I would want to learn. I try to be organized, open-minded, and responsive. I often seek and integrate student feedback into my teaching, which helps me understand my students’ perspectives and enables my growth as an instructor. I believe that effective teaching centers on connection: connecting to students; connecting ideas; and connecting material to personal, professional, and community experiences.

Research Interests

 I have always been fascinated with social skills and the ways in which our interactions influence our relational, mental, and physical well-being. Accordingly, my research interests lie at the intersection of relational and health communication, with a focus on navigating health-related interactions and well-being in the context of close relationships, workplace wellness, and social media. Recently, I started exploring the ways in which caregivers communicate with others about their experiences providing care for a loved one. This research is personally meaningful to me, and I am working towards creating a resource that will help caregivers navigate the complex communication inherent in caregiving: https://triciaburke.wp.txstate.edu/caregiving-project/.

Selected Scholarly/Creative Work

  • Farris, K. N. L., Burns, M. E., Burke, T. J., & Bezner, J. R. (2023). Employee culture of health perceptions and the development of a training intervention. International Journal of Workplace Health Management, 16(2/3), 205–221. Retrieved from https://www.emerald.com/insight/1753-8351.htm
  • Burke, T. J., Young, V. J., & Duggan, A. (2022). Recognizing the blurred boundary between health-related support and control in close relationships. Personal Relationships, 29(4), 644–673. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10/1111/pere.12445
  • Crowley, J. P., Burke, T. J., Allred, R., E. G., & Denes, A. (2020). Navigating relational turbulence in the wake of weight loss transitions: A support marshaling analysis. Personal Relationships, 27(3), 630–651. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/pere.12335
  • Burke, T. J., & Rains, S. A. (2019). The paradoxical outcomes of observing others’ exercise behavior on social network sites: Friends’ exercise posts, exercise attitudes, and weight concern. Health Communication, 34(4), 475–483. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2018.1428404
  • Arroyo, A., Burke, T. J., & Young, V. J. (2019). The role of close others in promoting weight management and body image outcomes: An application of confirmation, self-determination, social control, and social support. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 37(3), 1030–1050. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407519886066

Selected Awards

  • Award / Honor Recipient: Top Paper, National Communication Association, Training and Development Division. 2022
  • Award / Honor Recipient: College Achievement Award in Scholarship/Creative Activity, Texas State University. 2019
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Online Teaching Award, Texas State University. 2019
  • Award / Honor Recipient: College Achievement Award in Scholarship/Creative Activity, Texas State University. 2018
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Invited to Favorite Professor's Dinner, Alpha Chi, Texas State University. 2018

Selected Grants

  • Houser, Marian L (Principal), Farris, Kristen Nacole LeBlanc (Co-Principal), Burke, Patricia Jean (Co-Principal). Assessment of the Caregiver Communication Competence Scale, Texas State University, Texas State University, $16000. (Submitted: October 1, 2022, Funded: January 1, 2023 - May 31, 2024). Grant.
  • Burke, T. J., Burns, Michael Edward. Building a Culture of Health at Work: Assessing and Fostering Supervisor Support, Texas State University, $16000. (Funded: December 2017 - December 2018). Grant.
  • Burke, T. J (Principal), Burns, Michael Edward. Investigating Family Communication and Mental Health during the Transition to College, Research Enhancement Grant, Texas State University, $16000. (Funded: 2013 - 2014). Grant.
  • Burke, T. J. Graduate and Professional Student Council Travel Grant, University of Arizona, $500. (Funded: 2011). Grant.
  • Farris, Kristen Nacole LeBlanc (Principal), Singh, Shailendra Mohan (Co-Principal), Burke, Patricia Jean (Supporting). Developing Communicative Resilience in Parent-Caregivers of Children with Medically Complex Conditions, Research Enhancement Program, Texas State University, $16000. (Submitted: September 20, 2021, Funded: May 1, 2022 - Present). Grant.

Selected Service Activities

Member
Total Wellness Research and Operations Group
2017-Present
Teaching Observation
Observed Dr. Josh Miller's Online COMM 4345 Class
September 2023-Present
Organizer
Wellness Education Series Presentation: Beating Burnout
July 2023-Present
Interim Assistant Chair
Department of Communication Studies
February 2023-Present
Editorial Review Board Member
Personal Relationships
2022-Present