Our People

Center for Health Communication

Meet Our People

The Center for Health Communication at the University of Delaware is led by distinguished communication scholars making key contributions to the field. Using a team science approach, our research teams bring together faculty, postdoctoral associates, students, and community partners. With expertise in health, interpersonal and media communication, CHC faculty mentor undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students—offering opportunities for publishing, presenting at national and international conferences, gaining grant-writing experience and engaging in community outreach to translate research into practice.

Directors

Amy Bleakley

Director, Center for Health Communication
Professor, Communication

bleakley@udel.edu

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John Crowley

Associate Director, Center for Health Communication
Associate Professor, Communication

jpcrow@udel.edu

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Morgan Ellithorpe

Associate Director, Center for Health Communication
Associate Professor, Communication

mellitho@udel.edu

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Faculty

Kami Silk

Faculty, Center for Health Communication
Chair of Communication and Rosenberg Professor of Communication

kamisilk@udel.edu

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Staff Spotlight

John Crowley is an associate professor in the Department of Communication at UD and an associate director of CHC. The CHC team is collaborative, vibrant and passionate about the work they do, and the same can be said about Dr. Crowley.

His research focuses on how interpersonal communication can impact one’s health and well-being, which he hopes can be used to “help individuals, particularly those within marginalized groups, build resiliency to cope with interpersonal stressors.”

According to Crowley, the most meaningful result of his work is being able to contribute to society and make a social impact. In one important study, he investigated how to give meaningful social support to people of the LGBTQ community who experience hate speech. This study found ways to help alleviate stress and promote health over time. It is clear that communication research can take a leading role in addressing disparities for those in marginalized groups and specifically encourage healing for those who are discriminated against. His work seeks to help make the world more accepting, ethical and compassionate.

Crowley has published many works in top communication journals as well as journals specializing in health and relationships. He is also the recipient of the Early Career Award from the interpersonal communication division of the National Communication Association and the Center for the Study of Diversity at the University of Delaware’s 2020 Faculty Diversity Fellowship grant. Look for upcoming research projects and exciting work by Crowley!