Elena Strauman
Associate Professor
Dr. Elena Strauman joined the College of Charleston communication faculty in 2004 after teaching for three years in the Department of Communication and Journalism at Auburn University. She is a native of Philadelphia, Pa., and earned her bachelor’s degree from LaSalle University. She received her master’s and doctoral degrees at the University of South Florida in Tampa.
Dr. Strauman's main areas of research and teaching interest are rhetorical theory and criticism and health communication. Her primary line of research involves representations of health in the media. For example, she has examined the media coverage surrounding Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, physicians in the news, and discourse on medical error. She has also conducted research in the area of communication education. Dr. Strauman is a past chair of the Kenneth Burke Society Interest Group of the Southern States Communication Association.
At the College of Charleston Dr. Strauman has taught courses emphasizing communication theory, communication ethics, and health communication. She lives in Charleston with her two dogs and her horse Fisher (named for communication theorist Walter Fisher).
Education
M.A. and Ph.D., University of South Florida in Tampa
B.A., LaSalle University
Research Interests
- Rhetorical theory and criticism
- Health communication