Curriculum Vitae

RESEARCH INTERESTS

• Health Communication  

• Persuasion – Social Influence

• Message Design  

• Health Campaigns  

• Social Diffusion

• Interpersonal Communication

• Media Effects

RESEARCH APPOINTMENTS

Center for Health Equity Transformation (CHET), University of Kentucky

June 2020-Present

Nancy Schoenberg, Ph.D., Jerod Stapleton, Ph.D., and Shyanika Rose, PhD.

Assisted faculty engaged in a diverse array of research approaches, including community-based participatory research, survey design, policy, intervention, and dissemination and implantation science to promote equity in health and healthcare for at-risk populations.

Department of Communication, University of Kentucky

Aug 2018 – Present

Diane Francis, Ph.D.

Strategized, researched, and published several projects focusing on cancer screening, sexual health promotion, health equity, minority health, and celebrity health announcements.

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Oct 2016 – Present

Donald Helme, Ph.D.

Collaborated in the implementation, evaluation, and dissemination of several multi-disciplinary projects researching various health disparities in rural Appalachian communities such as smokeless tobacco use, misuse of opioids, and the role of masculinity and rural culture on health behaviors.

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May 2018 – Dec 2019

Allison Gordon, Ph.D.

Coded and aid in the writing of studies exploring patient-provider conversations about end-of-life.

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Aug 2016 – June 2017

Matthew Savage, Ph.D.

Developed health promotion campaigns using communication infrastructure theory to investigate and promote oral health beliefs and behaviors among young adults in Appalachia.

Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Pennsylvania State University

May 2018 – Dec 2019

Dr. Lauren Vanscoy

Coder for an NIH R-21 Grant for a communication quality analysis of clinician and patient conversations about end-of-life issues.

TEACHING APPOINTMENTS

Gatton College of Business and Economics

Master of Business Administration (MBA) Program, University of Kentucky

• MBA630: Professional Development

Role: Assistant to Instructor

Semesters Taught: Summer 2020, Summer 2021

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College of Communication & Information, University of Kentucky

Department of Communication

• COM352: Interpersonal Communication and Social Media

Role: Instructor of Record

Semesters Taught: Fall 2019, Spring 2020

• COM351: Communication Theory

Role: Instructor of Record

Semesters Taught: Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020

• COM326: Communication Strategies for Professional Excellence

Role: Instructor of Record

Semester Taught: Fall 2019

• COM 252: Interpersonal Communication

Role: Instructor of Record

Semesters Taught: Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019

• COM 101: Introduction to Communication

Role: Assistant to Instructor and Co-Developer of Online Course

Semesters Taught: Fall 2016, Summer 2017

• SEE BLUE Orientation: Introduction to College Life

Role: Instructor of Record

Semesters Taught: Spring 2015; Summer 2015

PUBLICATIONS

BOOK CHAPTERS

1. Zelaya, C.M., Francis, D. B. (2021) Technology and sexual health communication among Black and Latinx young women. In Cooke-Jackson, A., Rubinsky, J. (Eds.), Communicating Intimate Health.

REFEREED JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS

1. Zelaya, C.M. Roberson, L., Yeager, H., Dunfee, M., Schoenberg, N.E. (In Press) A scoping review of Internet-based interventions for Appalachian rural populations. Health and Place.

2. Francis, D., Pilny, A., Zelaya, C.M. (In Press) Something to talk about: Examining the impact of a public figure cancer death on social interactions. Journal of Applied Communication.

3. Zelaya, C.M., Stapleton, J., Parmar, V., Niu, Z., Ray, A., Greene, K. (In Press) Perceptions of the college experience impact the healthy lifestyle behaviors of college students. Journal of American College Health,

4. Francis, D., Zelaya, C.M., Williams, L. (In Press). COVID-19 Vaccine hesitancy and skepticism among young African Americans: A qualitative study with implications for health communication. Health Communication.

5. Francis, D., Fortune, D., Zelaya, C.M., Noar, S. (In Press) “There’s nothing like being well packaged”: Qualitative Evaluation of an Intervention to Improve Condom Availability and Accessibility for Black College Women. American Journal of Health Promotion.

6. Roberson, L., Yeager, H., Zelaya, C.M., Schoenberg, N. (2020) A scoping review on internetbased interventions for vulnerable rural populations: A protocol. Open Science Framework. DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/QBT3N Retrieve from: https://osf.io/qbt3n

7. Egan, K., Wolfson, M., Lukacena-Buzzetta, K., McLeary, M., Zelaya. C.M., Helme, D. (2020) Developing a health communication campaign for disposal of unused opioid medications. Addictive Behaviors Reports,

8. de la Serna, X., Helme, D.W., Zelaya, C.M., Morris, E., Oser, C., Knudsen, H. (2020) Because we are country: Dipping as a community of practice. Health, Risk & Society.

9. Francis, D. B., Zelaya, C.M. (2020) Cancer fatalism and cancer information seeking among Black women: Examining the impact of Aretha Franklin’s death on cancer communication outcomes. Journal of Cancer Education,

10. Helme, D., Egan, K., Lukacena-Buzzetta, K., Zelaya., C.M., Roberson, L., McLeary, M., Wolfson, M. (2020) Encouraging Disposal of Unused Opioid Analgesics in Appalachia. Drugs: Education, Prevention & Policy,

11. Helme, D.W., Morris, E., de la Serna, X., Zelaya, C.M., Oser, C., Knudsen, H. (2020) “Country boys spit and dip”: How masculinity and family contribute to rural adolescent smokeless tobacco use. The Journal of Men’s Studies,

12. Francis, D. B., Zelaya, C.M., Fortune, D. A., & Noar, S. M. (2019). Black college women’s interpersonal communication in response to a sexual health intervention: A mixed methods study. Health communication, 1-9.

13. Helme, D. W., Oser, C., Knudsen, H. K., Morris, E., De la Serna, A., & Zelaya, C.M. (2019). Smokeless tobacco and the rural teen: How culture and masculinity contribute to adolescent use. Journal of Health Communication, 24(3), 311-318.

GRANT EXPERIENCE

2018 – 2021

A Tailored Intervention to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening among African American Women.

(Role: Research Assistant).

Funded by the American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant to the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center to develop an eHealth intervention to improve colon cancer screening among Black women. $30,000 for 2018-2020 with PI Diane B. Francis, Department of Communication, University of Kentucky.

2018 – 2021

Evaluation of an Innovative Condom Distribution Program Targeting Young African American Women.

(Role: Research Assistant).

Funded by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Center for AIDS Research. $30,000 for 2014-2016, with Co-PI Diane B. Francis, Department of Communication, University of Kentucky and Co-PI Seth M. Noar University of North Carolina School of Media and Journalism.

2018 – 2021

Perceptions of Condom Availability and Condom Dispensers on UNC’s Campus.

(Role: Research Assistant).

Funded by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Center for AIDS Research. $2,000 for 2013-2014, with Co-PI Diane B. Francis, Department of Communication, University of Kentucky and Co-PI Seth M. Noar University of North Carolina School of Media and Journalism.

2018 – 2020

Communication Quality Analysis of End-of-Life Discussions by Clinicians.

(Role: Research Assistant/Coder)

Funded by the National Institute of Nursing Research. $233,659 for 2018-2020, with Co-Pi Allison Scott-Gordon, Department of Communication, University of Kentucky and Co-PI Lauren Van Scoy, Department of Medicine, PennState University.

2017 – 2019

Improving Messaging to Promote Organized Disposal & Prevent Abuse of Prescription Drugs in Appalachia: Community Perspectives.

(Role: Research Assistant).

Funded by the University of Kentucky Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) and Wake Forest Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI). $49,795 for September 2017 – August 2019, with PI Donald W. Helme, Department of Communication, University of Kentucky, Mark Wolfson, Department of Social Sciences and Health Promotion, Wake Forest University, and Kathleen Egan, Department of Health Education and Promotion, East Carolina University. Carina Mazariegos Zelaya 6

2016 – 2017

The Roles of Masculinity and Male Gender-Identification in Smokeless Tobacco Use: A Novel Approach for Targeting Prevention Efforts.

(Role: Research Assistant).

Funded by the University of Kentucky Office of the Vice President for Research. $15,182 for July 1, 2016 – December 31, 2017, with PI Donald W. Helme, Department of Communication, Co-PI Hannah K. Knudsen, Department of Behavioral Science, Co-PI Edward Morris, and CoPI Carrie Oser, Department of Sociology, University of Kentucky.

2016 – 2017

Oral Health Beliefs and Behavior Among Young Adults in Appalachian Kentucky.

(Role: Research Assistant).

Funded by the Appalachian Regional Commission. $350,000 for April 1, 2016 – June 30, 2017, with Co-PI Matthew Savage and Allison Gordon, Department of

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

1. Francis, D. B., Silwal, A., Zelaya, C. M., Thomas, T. (2021, April). Beliefs underlying colon cancer information seeking among young black adults: A reasoned action approach elicitation study. Poster presented at the DC Health Communication Conference, Washington, DC.

2. Zelaya, C.M., Santiago, J., Stahl, H. (2020, April). The intersectionality between social media influencer's fitness YouTube videos and young women's efficacy: A content analysis. Manuscript presented at the 16th biennial Kentucky Conference on Health Communication, Lexington, KY.

3. Francis, D., Grumbein, A., Zelaya, C.M., Said, M. (2020, April). Health communication cancer screening messages for black women: Review and recommendations for future research. Manuscript presented at the 16th biennial Kentucky Conference on Health Communication, Lexington, KY.

4. Egan K. L., Wolfson M., Lukacena-Buzzetta K. M., Zelaya C.M., McLeary MS, Helme D.W. (2020, April) Perceptions of rural Appalachian residents concerning excess prescription opioids in the home. Manuscript presented at the Collaborative Perspectives on Addiction, San Diego, CA.

5. Zelaya, C.M. (2019, November). Memorable messages: Narratives or rule-structured messages? Manuscript presented at the 105th annual conference of the National Communication Association, Baltimore, MD.

6. Zelaya, C.M., Santiago, J. (2019, November). A content analysis and examination of YouTube health and fitness videos grounded in the social cognitive theory. Manuscript presented at the 105th annual conference of the National Communication Association, Baltimore, MD.

7. Francis, D., Zelaya, C.M. (2019, November). Black women’s communication about cancer following Aretha Franklin’s death: Examining the influence of individual-level factors on interpersonal communication. Manuscript presented at the 105th annual conference of the National Communication Association, Baltimore, MD.

8. Francis, D., Zelaya, C.M., Fortune, D., Noar, S. (2019, November) Black college women’s interpersonal communication in response to a sexual health intervention: A mixed methods study. Manuscript presented at the 105th annual conference of the National Communication Association, Baltimore, MD.

9. Zelaya, C.M., Helme, D.W., Dragojevic, M. (2019, May). Not your grandmother’s IUD: A multiple goals perspective on birth control conversations. Manuscript presented at the 68th annual conference of the International Communication Association, Washington, D.C.

10. Francis, D., Zelaya, C.M. (2019, May). Cancer fatalism and cancer information seeking in African American women. Manuscript presented at the 68th annual conference of the International Communication Association, Washington, D.C.

11. Helme, D.W., Morris, E., de la Serna, X., Zelaya, C.M., Oser, C., Knudsen, H. (2019, May). “Country boys spit and dip”: How masculinity and family contribute to rural adolescent smokeless tobacco use. Manuscript presented at the 68th annual conference of the International Communication Association, Washington, D.C.

12. Zelaya, C.M., Helme, D.W. (2019, April). "It's a death stick, don't get it": Identifying memorable messages about LARCS. Poster presented at the 2019 D.C Health Communication Conference, Washington, D.C.

13. Helme, D., Egan, K., Lukacena-Buzzetta, K., Roberson, L., McLeary, M., Zelaya. C.M., Wolfson, M. (2019, April). Motivating proper disposal of unused prescription opioids in Appalachia: A community-based approach. Manuscript presented at the 2019 D.C Health Communication Conference, Washington, D.C.

14. Zelaya, C.M. (2019, February). Identifying memorable messages about long-acting reversible contraceptive methods: Recommendations for an effective health campaign. Manuscript presented at the HCB3 2019 Online Health Communication Conference, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois.

15. de la Serna, X., Helme, D.W., Zelaya, C.M., Morris, E., Oser, C., Knudsen, H. (2018, November). Because we are country: Dipping as a community of practice. Manuscript presented at the 104th annual conference of the National Communication Association, Salt Lake City, UT.

16. Helme, D.W., Oser, C., Knudsen, H., Morris, E., de la Serna, X, Zelaya, C.M. (2018, November). Smokeless tobacco and the rural male: How culture and masculinity contribute to adolescent use. Manuscript presented at the 104th annual conference of the National Communication Association, Salt Lake City, UT.

17. Helme, D.W., de la Serna, X, Zelaya, C.M. (2018, May). Dipping and the dark side of social support. Poster presented at the 68th annual conference of the International Communication Association, Prague, Czech Republic.

18. Helme, D.W., Knudsen, H., Oser, C., Morris, E., de la Serna, X, Zelaya, C.M. (2018, March). The Roles of Masculinity and Male Gender-Identification in Smokeless Tobacco Use. Poster presented at the 2018 Kentucky Conference on Health Communication, Lexington, KY. 

19. Savage, M. W., Scott, A., Dennis, H., Zelaya, C.M., Nawaz, A., Aalboe, J. A., Mullins, R., & Stein, P. (2016, November). Toward a socio-contextual model of oral health disparities in Appalachian Kentucky. Manuscript presented at the 102nd annual conference of the National Communication Association, Philadelphia, PA.

HONORS AND AWARDS

2021

Workshop Fellow: Virtual 2021 MCUAAAR Summer Mentoring Workshop for Advanced Doctoral Students.

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2020 – 2021

Dorothy A. Carrozza Cancer Fellowship Fund Award, University of Kentucky

2020

Palmgreen Fellowship Fund Award, University of Kentucky

2019

The Graduate School Travel Grant Award, University of Kentucky

2017

Global Health Case Competition, Third Place

2016 – 2018

Teaching Assistantship, College of Communication, University of Kentucky

2014 – 2016

College of Communication Honors, University of Kentucky

2015

Award from the College of Communication for academic excellence, University of Kentucky

2015 – 2013

Dean’s List, University of Kentucky

2013 – 2016

International Student Ambassador Full Tuition Scholarship for bachelor’s degree

SERVICE TO DISCIPLINE

2021

Co-Chair and Planner, Kentucky Health Communication Conference (KCHC)

2021

Hiring Search Committee Member, Center for Health Equity Transformation, University of Kentucky

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2021

Student Advisory Council Member, College of Communication and Information, University of Kentucky

2020

Research Chair, University of Kentucky Communication Graduate Student Association

2020

Professional Development Chair, University of Kentucky Communication Graduate Student Association

2020

106th National Communication Association Conference Reviewer, Indianapolis, IN, USA.

2020

16th biennial Kentucky Conference on Health Communication Volunteer, Lexington, KY, USA.

2020

6th biennial Kentucky Conference on Health Communication Reviewer, Lexington, KY, USA.

2019

105th National Communication Association Conference Volunteer. Baltimore, MD, USA.

2019

68th International Communication Association Conference Volunteer. Washington D.C., USA.

2019

68th International Communication Association Conference Reviewer. Washington D.C., USA.

2018 – Present

Orientation Micro-Teaching Leader, University of Kentucky (trained all University-funded graduate assistants, teaching assistants, and research assistants)

2018

67th International Communication Association Conference Volunteer. Prague, Czech Republic.

2017 – 2018 Seal Kentucky Program, College of Dentistry, University of Kentucky

2016 – 2018 Global Health Case Competition Ambassador

2013 – 2014

Communication Graduate Student Association (CGSA)

RELEVANT SKILLS

Languages

• Spanish (native)

• English (fluent)

• French (conversational)

Statistical Software

• SPSS

• SAS

• R & R-Studio

• STATCRUNCH

Qualitative Software

• InVivo

• Covidence

Creative Software

• Adobe Suite

• Canva

Learning Management Systems

• Canvas

• Blackboard