Dr. Elizabeth Stephens
Lecturer

Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. online only
Or by appointment: (901) 213-6501
Departments / Programs
Degree Information
- PHD, University of Memphis (2010)
- MA, University of Arkansas at Little Rock (2002)
- BA, University of Arkansas at Little Rock (2000)
Areas of Expertise
Interpersonal Communication: Identity, Grief
Health Communication: Patient/Provider, Palliative care
Ethnography
Chair, Southern States Communication Association. Ethnography Interest Division (2018-2019) Vice-Chair/Program Planner, Southern States Communication Association. Ethnography Interest Division (2017-2018)
Publications
Stephens, E. (2020). Homicide by Police: Coping with Traumatic Death. Journal of Autoethnography, 1(2).
Young, A.J., Stephens, E., & Goldsmith, J.V. (2017). Family communication in the intensive care unit: Addressing boundary ambiguity with rhetorical agency. Journal of Family Communication, 17(2), 137-152.
Presentations
Stephens, E. Creating Dialectical Tensions: “Instructor” or “Online Tech-Savvy” Instructor? Panel: Reframing the Narrative of Online Education: Social Presence as a Path to Engagement & Experimentation. Southern States Communication Association. Instructional Development Division. Montgomery, AL (April, 2018).
Joy V. Goldsmith, J.V., Brockman, K., Young, A.J., Stephens, E. Phillips, O. Long Acting Removable ...
Read More »
Stephens, E. Creating Dialectical Tensions: “Instructor” or “Online Tech-Savvy” Instructor? Panel: Reframing the Narrative of Online Education: Social Presence as a Path to Engagement & Experimentation. Southern States Communication Association. Instructional Development Division. Montgomery, AL (April, 2018).
Joy V. Goldsmith, J.V., Brockman, K., Young, A.J., Stephens, E. Phillips, O. Long Acting Removable Contraception Resistance in Postpartum Adolescent Girls: The Interplay of Perspective, Motivation, and Health Literacy. Southern States Communication Association. Instructional Development Division. Montgomery, AL (April, 2018).
Stephens, E. I am my son’s Voice: Mothers’ responses to fatal police shootings. Panel: They have a difficult job: Policing in America. National Communication Association Conference. Black Caucus Division. Dallas, TX. (November, 2017).
Young, A., Stephens, E., & Goldsmith, J. Family caregiver communication and health literacy in the ICU. Southern States Communication Association Conference. Applied Communication Division. (April, 2017). Greenville, SC. Top Paper Panel for the Applied Division.
Young, A.J., Stephens, E. & Goldsmith, J.V. Family caregiver communication and health literacy in the ICU. 8th Annual Health Literacy Research Conference. Bethesda, MD. (October, 2016). Competitive poster.
Stephens, E. Letting go and holding on: An autoethnography of grief. Southern States Communication Association Conference. Ethnography Division Top Paper Award Austin, TX. (April, 2016).
Young, A.J. & Stephens, E. Family communication in the intensive care unit: Addressing boundary ambiguity with rhetorical agency. Kentucky Conference on Health Communication Conference. Lexington, KY. (April, 2016). Competitive poster.
Young, A.J., Schaffer, T., Stephens, E., Communication Strategies, Barriers and Boundaries in the Intensive Care Unit. National Communication Association Conference. Health Communication Division. Chicago, IL. (November, 2014).
Stephens, E. Coaching and mentoring our online students: An exploratory study of online students. Tennessee Communication Association Conference. Murfreesboro, TN. (September, 2013).
Stephens, E. America’s P.R.ID.E.: Entertainment education as a health communication intervention strategy for middle-school and high school students. National Communication Association Conference. Research in progress paper. Chicago, IL. (November, 2009).
Stephens, E. Messages about tobacco: The Tobacco Free Memphis intervention with middle school and high school students. Southern States Communication Association Conference. Health Communication Division. Savannah, GA. (April, 2008).
Stephens, E. Job Corps: Smoking intervention using social cognitive theory. National Communication Association Conference. Training and Development Division. Chicago, IL. (November, 2007).
Stephens, E. An analysis of medical team communication in the Bristol Royal Infirmary case. National Communication Association Conference. Competitive poster. San Antonio, TX. (November, 2006).
Awards
2017 Top Paper Panel, Applied Communication Division. Southern States Communication Association Conference. Young, A., Stephens, E., & Goldsmith, J. Family caregiver communication and health literacy in the ICU.
2016 Top Paper Award, Ethnography Division. Southern States Communication Association Conference. Stephens, E. Letting go and holding on: An autoethnography of grief.&n...
Read More »2017 Top Paper Panel, Applied Communication Division. Southern States Communication Association Conference. Young, A., Stephens, E., & Goldsmith, J. Family caregiver communication and health literacy in the ICU.
2016 Top Paper Award, Ethnography Division. Southern States Communication Association Conference. Stephens, E. Letting go and holding on: An autoethnography of grief.
2014 Emerging Leader Horizon Award, Tennessee Communication Association.
2009 The John Angus Campbell Award for Excellence in Teaching, University of Memphis, Communication Department.
Courses
Introduction to Organizational Communication
Interview Communication
Small Group Communication
Interpersonal Communication
Strategic Communication
Previous Courses:
Persuasion
Conflict
Health Communication
Health Communication: Graduate Seminar