Monica Riordan

Monica Riordan, Ph.D., is Professor of Psychology in the College of Arts & Sciences at Chatham University, where she has taught since 2012. Her scholarship focuses on computer-mediated communication, alignment and coordination processes, and cognition, with particular attention to emoji use, virtual-team dynamics, and multimedia pedagogy.

Education

• Ph.D. in Psychology, University of Memphis, 2011
• M.S. in Psychology, University of Memphis, 2008
• B.A. in Psychology, University of Missouri–Columbia, 2007
• B.A. in Sociology, University of Missouri–Columbia, 2007

Research Interests

Dr. Riordan’s research investigates how people convey and interpret affect in digital environments. She examines emoji usage in workplace chat, the impact of multimedia assignments on student engagement, and the cognitive processes underlying alignment during online conversations. Her work bridges psychology, linguistics, and human-computer interaction to understand how subtle communicative cues function in technology-mediated contexts.

Publication Trends

Across more than two dozen peer-reviewed articles and chapters, Dr. Riordan’s recent work (2017-2024) demonstrates a consistent focus on three interlocking themes: (1) the pragmatic functions of emojis and GIFs in digital discourse, (2) pedagogical innovations using multimedia assignments in psychology education, and (3) the cognitive and social dynamics of alignment in computer-mediated communication. These studies collectively advance our understanding of how nonverbal cues are re-imagined in text-only or screen-mediated interactions.

Scientific Awards

No specific awards are listed in the provided materials.

Advising & Grants

No formal lists of students, grants, or funded projects appear in the text supplied.

Laboratories & Teams

No dedicated laboratory or research group names are mentioned.