
Erin Ruppel
Associate Professor
Johnston Hall 229
Education
PhD, Communication, University of Arizona
MA, Communication, University of Arizona
BA, Communication, University of the Pacific
Research and Teaching Interests
Communication technologies, interpersonal communication, health communication, small group communication
Courses Taught
Commun 301 – Interpersonal Communication
Commun 313 – Human Communication and Technology
Commun 323 – Communication in Groups and Teams
Commun 805 – Special Topics in Interpersonal Communication (Technologies in Interpersonal Relationships)
Commun 813 – Seminar in Mediated Communication
Commun 823 – Seminar in Group Communication
Selected Publications
Ruppel, E. K. (2019). Putting (human) communication at the center of technology studies. Human Communication and Technology, 1(1), 9–12.
Ruppel, E. K., Burke, T. J., Cherney, M. R., & Dinsmore, D. (2018). Social compensation and enhancement processes via mediated communication in the transition to college. Human Communication Research, 44, 58-79.
Ruppel, E. K. (2018). Preference for and perceived competence of communication technology affordances in face-threatening scenarios. Communication Reports, 31, 53-64.
Blight, M. B., Ruppel, E. K., & Schoenbauer, K. V. (2017). Sense of community on Twitter and Instagram: Exploring the roles of motives and parasocial relationships. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 20, 314-319.
Ruppel, E. K., Gross, C., Stoll, A., Peck, B., Allen, M. R., & Kim, S. (2017). Reflecting on connecting: Meta-analysis of differences between mediated and face-to-face self-disclosure. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 22, 18-34.
Ruppel, E. K., Burke, T. J., & Cherney, M. R. (2017). Channel complementarity and multiplexity in friendship: Associations with closeness and sex composition. New Media & Society.
Ruppel, E. K., Blight, M., Cherney, M., & Fylling, S. (2016). An exploratory investigation of communication technologies as a means to alleviate communicative difficulties and depression in older adults. Journal of Aging and Health, 28, 600-620.
Ruppel, E. K. (2016). Scanning health information sources: Applying and extending the comprehensive model of information seeking. Journal of Health Communication, 21, 208-216.
Rains, S. A., & Ruppel, E. K. (2016). Channel complementarity theory in the health information-seeking process: Further investigating the implications of source characteristic complementarity. Communication Research, 43, 232-252.