Biography and education
I received my B.A. (2005), M.A. (2007), and Ph.D. (2012) in Communication from the University of Arizona. When I am not teaching or researching, I enjoy spending time with my family. We love sunshine, mountains, music, and the San Marcos River.
Teaching Interests
Research Interests
Featured grants
- Houser, Marian L (Principal), Farris, Kristen Nacole LeBlanc (Co-Principal), Burke, Patricia Jean (Co-Principal). Assessment of the Caregiver Communication Competence Scale, Texas State University, Texas State University, $16000. (Submitted: October 1, 2022, Funded: January 1, 2023 - May 31, 2024). Grant.
- Burke, T. J., Burns, Michael Edward. Building a Culture of Health at Work: Assessing and Fostering Supervisor Support, Texas State University, $16000. (Funded: December 2017 - December 2018). Grant.
- Burke, T. J (Principal), Burns, Michael Edward. Investigating Family Communication and Mental Health during the Transition to College, Research Enhancement Grant, Texas State University, $16000. (Funded: 2013 - 2014). Grant.
- Burke, T. J. Graduate and Professional Student Council Travel Grant, University of Arizona, $500. (Funded: 2011). Grant.
- Farris, Kristen Nacole LeBlanc (Principal), Burke, Patricia Jean (Co-Principal). Familial Influence in Patient Medical Decision-Making, Research Enhancement Program, Texas State University, $23900. (Submitted: October 2025). Grant.
Featured scholarly/creative works
- Cooper, A., Burke, T. J., & DeGroot, J. (2025). Coping with Loss in Caregiving: Comparing the Experiences of Dementia Family Caregivers and Parents of Medically Complex Children. Health Communication.
- Burke, T. J., DeGroot, J. M., Farris, K. L., & Mellow, A. J. (2024). The rare life: Examining parents’ grief associated with caring for their medically complex children. Health Communication. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2024.2330130
- Farris, K. N. L., Singh, S. M., Burke, T., & Warber, K. (2023). Communicative Resilience in Parent-Caregivers of Children with Medically Complex Conditions (MCCs). Texas Speech Communications Journal, 47, 17–31.
- Farris, K. N. L., Burns, M. E., Burke, T. J., & Bezner, J. R. (2023). Employee culture of health perceptions and the development of a training intervention. International Journal of Workplace Health Management, 16(2/3), 205–221. Retrieved from https://www.emerald.com/insight/1753-8351.htm
- Burke, T. J., Young, V. J., & Duggan, A. (2022). Recognizing the blurred boundary between health-related support and control in close relationships. Personal Relationships, 29(4), 644–673. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10/1111/pere.12445
Featured awards
- Award / Honor Recipient: Presidential Distinction Award in Scholarly and Creative Activity, Texas State University. 2024
- Award / Honor Recipient: Top Paper, National Communication Association, Training and Development Division. 2022
- Award / Honor Recipient: Online Teaching Award, Texas State University. 2019
- Award / Honor Recipient: College Achievement Award in Scholarship/Creative Activity, Texas State University. 2019
- Award / Honor Recipient: College Achievement Award in Scholarship/Creative Activity, Texas State University. 2018
Featured service activities
- Member
WellCats Leadership Team
- Member
Pediatric Experience Collaborative
- Member
COFAC AI Subcommittee
- Board Member
Second Street Children's School
- Member
Phoenix Children's Hospital Institutional Review Board
- Member
Teaching Effectiveness Committee