ABOUT ME
I’m an Associate Professor in the Department of Advertising & Public Relations, Faculty Lead for the Alabama Science Communication Initiative, a Senior Fellow with the Office for Research & Economic Development, and a Faculty Fellow with the Global Water Security Center/Alabama Water Institute at the University of Alabama.
Office Hours: By appointment
Office: 2630 Capital Hall
Email: vandyke@apr.ua.edu
Phone: 205-614-3372
Ph.D. Media and Communication (Texas Tech University)
M.A. Communication (Virginia Tech)
B.A. Communication (Virginia Tech)
My research examines processes, effects, and problems associated with the public communication of science and environmental risk information. Currently, I’m investigating how public relations operates in science and environmental risk contexts, and opportunities to build theory and enhance practice using public relations, science communication, environmental communication, risk communication, and media psychology concepts and theories. Broad, interrelated questions I’m currently studying include:
- How is issues management practiced in science contexts?
- How can organizations improve their science and environmental risk public engagement strategies?
- How do communication strategies (content, structural features, and source factors) and individual differences influence perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors related to science issues, water security and availability, and water quality risks?
Please contact me with any questions regarding this work or regarding collaboration. Students are especially encouraged to contact me if you are interested in this work and want to become involved.