Faculty Profiles

Colleges and Departments

Dr. Tricia Burke

  • Professor - Department of Communication Studies
  • Professor - Department of Communication Studies
  • Program Faculty - Department of Communication Studies
Portrait of Dr. Tricia Burke

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

  • 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.
View all grants
  • Farris, K. N. L., DeGroot, J. M., Burke, T. J., & Mellow, A. J. (2026). “It’s going to take hard work”: An exploratory analysis of parent-caregivers’ labor across their child’s illness trajectory. Western Journal of Communication, 90(3), 417–441. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/10570314.2025.2601506
  • 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
View all scholarly/creative works
  • 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
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  1. Member

    WellCats Leadership Team

  2. Member

    Pediatric Experience Collaborative

  3. Member

    COFAC AI Subcommittee

  4. Board Member

    Second Street Children's School

  5. Member

    Phoenix Children's Hospital Institutional Review Board

  6. Member

    Teaching Effectiveness Committee

  7. View all activities