Associate Professor of Communication
Dr. Kimberly Field-Springer is an Associate Professor in the Communication Department at Berry College with a specialized focus on health communication. She earned her Ph.D. in Communication Studies from Ohio University and has dedicated her career to examining the intersections of health information, experiences, and practices. As an Associate Professor at Berry College, she has developed and taught a variety of courses, including health communication and public relations. Dr. Field-Springer’s research explores the dynamics of healthcare communication, particularly around health misinformation, ethical public relations practices, and the societal implications of health-related narratives. She is recognized in her field for her contributions as a leading voice on health communication and her research has received acknowledgments from the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as awards from regional and national conferences. She continues to engage in scholarly presentations and panels, advocating for informed communication strategies that advance informed public health discourse.
Education
- D. Ohio University, Athens, Ohio
- A. The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio
- A. Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
Teaching Interests
- Health Communication
- Public Relations
- Crisis & Risk Communication
- Social Media Management & Strategy
- Gender, Race, & Class in Media
Research Interests
- Health Communication Campaigns
- Misinformation and Disinformation
- Women’s Reproductive Health
Field Experience
- Executive Director, Rittman Chamber of Commerce, Rittman, Ohio
- Marketing Assistant, Wooster Community Hospital, Wooster, Ohio
Selected Publications
- Field-Springer, K., Striley, K., Byerly, J., Simmons, N., Ferrell, T.,* & Quigley, S.* (2024). ‘Are you vaccinated? Yeah, I’m immunized’: a risk orders theory analysis of celebrity COVID-19 misinformation. Journal of Communication in Healthcare, 1-11.
- Field-Springer, K., Draut, H., Babrow, F.,* & Sandman, M.* (2021). (Re)claiming stories in the #Metoo movement: righting epistemic wrongs of physical, mental, and emotional harms of sexual violence. Health Communication, 1-10.
- Field-Springer, K., Reece, C., & Randall-Griffiths, D. (2019). Intergenerational considerations for educators and healthcare providers in transitioning girls and women for menarche and menopause. Women’s Reproductive Health, 6, 79-101.
- Field-Springer, K. & Striley, K. (2018). Managing meanings of embodied experiences theory: Towards a discursive understanding of becoming healthier. Health Communication, 33, 700-709.
Professional Associations
- Public Relations Society of America
- National Communication Association
- The Organization for the Study of Communication, Language, and Gender