Biography and education
Dr. Kristen Farris is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Texas State University. She graduated with her PhD in interpersonal communication from the University of Texas at Austin in 2017. Prior to that, she earned a MA in communication studies from Texas State University and a BA in speech communication from Stephen F. Austin State University.
Teaching Interests
Research Interests
Featured grants
- Burns, Michael Edward, Farris, Kristen Nacole LeBlanc, Burney, Marsha N. TEDxTexasStateUniversity, Common Experience, Texas State University, $1000. (Funded: December 2018). Grant.
- 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.
- Farris, Kristen Nacole LeBlanc (Principal), Burns, Michael Edward (Co-Principal), Paz, Mark A (Supporting), Ngondo, Prisca (Supporting). TEDx Texas State University, Common Experience, Texas State University, $1000. (Submitted: September 2022, Funded: September 2022 - Present). Grant.
- Dailey, Stephanie Layne (Principal), Farris, Kristen Nacole LeBlanc (Co-Principal). Memorable Messages of First-Generation College Students, Research Enhancement Grant, Texas State University, $14900. (Funded: 2019 - 2020). Grant.
- DeMuynck, Jacqueline Patrice (Principal), Head, Katherine Michelle (Co-Principal), Galarza, Jason Lee (Co-Principal), Farris, Kristen Nacole LeBlanc (Supporting), Burns, Michael Edward (Supporting), Paz, Mark A (Supporting), LeClair, Cassandra Fay (Supporting), Frei, Seth Steven (Supporting). TEDx Texas State University, Common Experience, Texas State University, $1000. (Submitted: September 2019). Grant.

Featured scholarly/creative works
- Dailey, S. L., Farris, K. N. L., Howard, K. J., & Burke, T. J. (2025). "It’s a Roller Coaster of Emotions!’: Investigating the Paradoxes of Childcare App Use and Work Engagement. Journal of Applied Communication Research, 53(3), 198–220. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/00909882.2025.2477032
- Worley, T. R., Scheinfeld, E., & Farris, K. N. L. (2024). Relational turbulence in the context of families: A lifespan perspective and roadmap for future research. Annals of the International Communication Association. https://doi.org/10.1080/23808985.2024.2380298
- Dailey, S. L., Farris, K. N. L., & Austin, J. T. (2023). “Parties happen a lot less than what the movies say they do:” Expectancy violations of first-generation college students. Journal of College Orientation, Transition, and Retention, 30(2), 1–17. https://doi.org/https://pubs.lib.umn.edu/index.php/jcotr/article/view/5043
- Farris, K. N. L., Houser, M. L., & Timmerman, C. E. (2023). Pandemic pedagogy and turbulence in the teacher-student relationship. Texas Speech Communication Journal, 47(1), 52–70.
- 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.
Featured awards
- Award / Honor Recipient: Top Paper Award, Training and Development Division of the National Communication Association. November 2022
- Award / Honor Recipient: Top Paper Panel Award, Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Division of the National Communication Association. November 2022
- Award / Honor Recipient: Top Paper Award, Instructional Development Division of the Southern States Communication Association. April 2022
- Award / Honor Recipient: Top Paper Panel Award, Instructional Development Division of the National Communication Association. November 2021
- Award / Honor Recipient: Favorite Professor, Texas State University Chapter of Alpha Chi National College Honor Society. 2020

Featured service activities
- Reviewer / Referee
Southern Communication Journal
- University Mentor
Department of Communication Studies
- Member
Basic Course Curriculum Committee
- Reviewer / Referee
Health Communication
- Reviewer / Referee
Basic Communication Course Annual
- Member
WellCats
