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Faculty & Staff

Tracy R. Worrell

Assistant Professor
Office: 
01-3041
Phone: 
585-475-2298
Fax: 
585-475-7732
Email: 
tracy.worrell@rit.edu
BA, Otterbein College; MA, University of Cincinnati; Ph.D., Michigan State University

Professor Worrell has a B.A. in Speech Communication from Otterbein University, and degrees in Communication from the University of Cincinnati (M.A.) and Michigan State University (Ph.D.). Since coming to RIT in 2008, Professor Worrell has taught a wide variety of classes, advised undergraduate and graduate theses and furthered her own scholarly work.

As a researcher Professor Worrell has predominantly focused on examining health messages and the media. She has written numerous conference papers and has been published in journals such as Health Communication and the Howard Journal of Communication. Publications have explored areas such as the portrayal of illness on television and its impact on those with said illnesses to creating effective health messages to promote behavior change. Professor Worrell’s current interests are in continuing to examine the portrayal of illness and disability in the media and studying the use of mobile health in promoting behavior change.

Worrell, T.R. (2010). Utility and the effect on health message perceptions of online Public Service Announcements. A paper accepted at the 97th meeting of the National Communication Association, New Orleans, LA.

Worrell, T.R. & Asada, K. (2010). Why don’t you love me?: A look at unrequited love in the media. A paper presented at the 96th meeting of the National Communication Association, San Francisco, CA.

Greenberg, B., Rosaen, S. F., Worrell, T. R., Salmon, C., & Volkman, J. (2009). The Portrait of Food and Drink in Commercial TV Series. Health Communication, 24, 4, 295-303.

Worrell, T.R. & Tamborini R. (2009). The TV made me do it: The impact of exemplars and base-rates on behavioral intentions. A paper presented at the 95th meeting of the National Communication Association, Chicago, IL.

Greenberg, B.S. & Worrell, T.R. (2007). New faces on television: A 12- season replication. Howard Journal of Communication, 18, 4.

Zoller, H. & Worrell, T.R. (2006). Television illness depictions, identity, and social experience: Responses to Multiple Sclerosis on The West Wing among people with MS. Health Communication, 20, 1, 69-79.