Michelle A. Miller-Day

Associate Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences
Faculty affiliate with the Center for Human Development and Family Research

Office: 223 Sparks Building
Telephone: (814) 865-3826

Fax: (814) 863-7986
E-mail: mam32@psu.edu

Curriculum Vitae

EDUCATION:

• B.A., University of Southern California, 1982 (Counseling Psychology and Communication)
• M.F.A., University of Southern California, 1985 (Theater)
• M.A., Arizona State University, 1987 (Communication)
• Ph.D., Arizona State University, 1995 (Communication)
  

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS:

Dr. Miller-Day's research examines interpersonal and family communication variables related to problem behavior such as substance abuse and suicide. She recently adapted, directed, and produced an ethnodrama titled "HOMEwork" in Harrisburg, PA based on interviews with over 200 individuals about managing low wage work and family. See http://cas.la.psu.edu/research/maternal/homework.html for more information.

Dr. Miller-Day is the author of two published books, one titled "Adolescent Relationships and Drug Use" and the other "Communication among Grandmothers, Mothers, and Adult Daughters: A Study of Maternal Relationships." She has also published numerous articles in professional journals such as the Journal of Family Communication, Journal of Applied Communication Research, and the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. Dr. Miller-Day's research has been highlighted in the popular press in outlets such as Glamour Magazine and Redbook. Additionally, she has chaired the Family Communication Division of the National Communication Association, coordinated several community-based prevention projects (gang prevention, substance abuse prevention), and was recently awarded the 2002-2003 College of Liberal Arts advising award.

COURSES:

CAS 83: Communicating in Intimate Relationships
CAS 203: Interpersonal Communication Skills
CAS 403: Interpersonal Communication Theory & Research
CAS 405: Family Communication Theory & Research
CAS 555: Interpersonal Communication
CAS 556: Relational Communication
CAS 558: Family Communication
CAS 562: Qualitative Research Methods

RESEARCH AREAS:

Adolescent relationships and drug use
Family communication as a protective/resiliency factor
Alternative (re)presentations of scholarly research
Mother-adult daughter communication

FACULTY RECENT PUBLICATIONS:

• Miller-Day, M., & Davis, J. L. (2006). Perceptions of parental communication orientation,
perfectionism, and disordered eating behaviors of sons and daughters. Health Communication, 19(2), 153-163.
• Miller-Day, M. & Fisher, C. (2006). Communication in mother-adult daughter relationships. In K. Floyd
and M. Morman (Eds.) Widening the family circle: New research on family communication. NewburyPark, CA: Sage.
•Elek, E., Miller-Day, M., & Hecht, M. L. (2006). Influences of personal, injunctive, and descriptive
norms on early adolescent substance use. Journal of Drug Issues, 42 (4), 143-168.
•Miller-Day, M. (2006). Talking with children about alcohol and drugs. Family Focus: National Council on Family Relations Quarterly, 58.
•Miller-Day, M. (2005). U.S. Parent-Offspring Discourse about Alcohol and Other Drugs. Language and Communication Journal, 10, 10-18.
• Miller-Day, M. (2004). Communication among grandmothers, mothers, and adult daughters: A qualitative study of women across three generations. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates
publishing.