Dr. Rebecca Murphy

SO 5090, #2207
Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw, GA 30144

Phone: 678.797.2417
Fax: 770.423.6740
Email: rmurph27@kennesaw.edu

Ph.D. University of Utah
MPH University of Utah
B.A. State Univ. of NY College at Buffalo

B.A. Niagara University

Dr. Rebecca Murphy joined the Department of Communication in Fall 2007 as an Assistant Professor. She has published peer reviewed manuscripts in the American Journal of Health Behavior, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Journal of Health Communication, Nicotine and Tobacco Research, and other publications. Her current research interest is in effective health communications.

By exposing students to new ideas and information, providing real-life examples of successes and lessons learned, and applying them, she believes students build their self-efficacy to succeed. She feels strongly that the application of communication theories, principles, and strategies by students to projects is key to the education experience. In the Fall she coordinated KSU’s 2007 American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout where students conducted a news conference gaining area media coverage, as well as numerous campus activities.

She previously served for seven years as a Health Communications Specialist and a Health Scientist in the Office on Smoking and Health (OSH) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) where she provided assistance with planning, implementing and evaluating tobacco counter-marketing campaigns with state health departments, national partner organizations, federal agencies and other health organizations.

Dr. Murphy was the Utah state coordinator for the CDC’s national tobacco control grant, and the Western New York Field Director for the NCI’s ASSIST (American Stop Smoking Intervention Study) at Roswell Park Cancer Institute. Rebecca has won five national awards for health communication efforts ranging from a mini-magazine to event publicity. She has been part of passing local tobacco control ordinances, state laws, and commenting on federal regulations.

She earned her doctorate in Health Education and Promotion at the University of Utah and holds a Master of Public Health degree from the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine at the University of Utah. Rebecca also has a BA in Public Communications from the State University of New York College at Buffalo and a BA in English from Niagara University.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead