Faculty Profiles

Colleges and Departments

Dr. Maureen Keeley-Vassberg

  • Professor - Department of Communication Studies
Portrait of Dr. Maureen Keeley-Vassberg

Biography and education

Dr. Keeley was born and raised in Tucson, AZ ; she comes from a large Irish American family filled with civil servants (police officers, fire fighters, and nurses) and believes that her work as a Professor (scholar and teacher) has the same service goal as those distinguished professions: to help others and to improve lives. She is happily married and they have a son and a daughter. Dr. Keeley earned her PhD in 1994 from the University of Iowa, Her MA from the University of Arizona in 1987, and her BA from the University of Arizona in 1983 (All in field of Communication Studies)

Teaching Interests

Research Interests

  • Villagran, Melinda Morris (Principal), Percent Contribution: %70, Burney, Marsha N (Supporting), Percent Contribution: %25, Keeley-Vassberg, Maureen (Supporting), Percent Contribution: %5. Networx: A Virtual Safety Net to Improve Postpartum Health, St Davids Foundation, Private / Foundation / Corporate, $289633. (Submitted: October 2017, Funded: January 2018 - August 2020). Grant.
  • Eger, Elizabeth Kamman, Percent Contribution: %75, Smith, Tara, Percent Contribution: %10, Pokharel, Manusheela, Percent Contribution: %5, Keeley-Vassberg, Maureen, Percent Contribution: %5, Dailey, Stephanie Layne, Percent Contribution: %5. Library Online Resource Grant, Alkek Library, Texas State University, $30740. (Funded: March 2020). Grant.
  • Keeley, Maureen (Co-Principal), Villagran, Melinda (Co-Principal), Burns, Michael (Co-Principal). Communication between Special Olympians, Family Caregivers, and Medical Professionals, Special Olympics, Texas Chapter, Private / Foundation / Corporate, $8000. (Submitted: 2014). Grant.
  • Keeley, Maureen (Principal). Final Conversations II: The Children Voice, Texas State University-San Marcos, Research Enhancement Grant, Institutional (Higher Ed), $8000. (Submitted: 2009). Grant.
  • Keeley, Maureen (Principal). Final Conversations, Texas State University-San Marcos, Research Enhancement Grant, Institutional (Higher Ed), $8000. (Submitted: 2002). Grant.
View all grants
  • Keeley, M. P., & Yingling, J. (n.d.). The Good Goodbye: The Transformative Power of Communication at the End of Life. Carlsbad, CA, United States: Hay House Publisher.
  • Generous, M. A., & Keeley, M. P. (2020). Exploring the Connection Between End-of-Life Communication and Personal Growth after the death of a loved one. Omega-Journal of Death and Dying, 1–19. https://doi.org/doi.org/10.1177/0030222820915312
  • Keeley, M. (2017). Family Communication at the End of Life. Family Communication at the End of Life (45th ed., Vol. 2017). St. Alban, Basel, Switzerland: MDPI. Retrieved from http://www.mdpi.com/search?q=&authors=&article_type=&journal=behavsci&section=&special_issue=7419&search=Search
  • Keeley, M. (2016). Family Communication at the End of Life. Journal of Family Communication, 16(3), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/15267431.2016.1181070
  • Manusov, V., & Keeley, M. (2015). When Talking is Difficult: Nonverbal Communication at the End of Life. Journal of Family Communication, 15, 387–409. Retrieved from 10.1080/15267431.2015.1076424
View all scholarly/creative works
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Bernard J. Brommel Award in Family Communication for Outstanding Scholarship, National Communication Society. November 21, 2021
  • Award / Honor Recipient: College Achievement Award for Excellence in Scholarly/Creative, College of Fine Arts and Communication, Texas State University. August 2021
  • Award / Honor Recipient: College Achievement Award for Excellence in Scholarly/Creative Activities, College of Fine Arts and Communication. August 2020
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Distinguished Article of the Year, Division of Health Communication, National Communication Association. March 1, 2016 - November 20, 2016
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Outstanding Article of the Year, Journal of Family Communication, Journal of Family Communication. December 15, 2015 - November 20, 2016
View all awards
  1. Member

    College Tenure and Promotion Committee

  2. Member

    PC Annual Review Committee (PCARS)

  3. Other

    Presidential Award Reviewer for scholarship (Spring)

  4. Member

    Bernard J. Brommel Award in Family Comm (NCA, Award Committee Member)

  5. Member

    Personnel Committee

  6. Member

    Attend and participate in 1-2 graduations per year

  7. View all activities