Laura Crosswell

Laura Crosswell serves as Associate Professor of Health Communication and Director of the Center for Advanced Media Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno's Reynolds School of Journalism and Media Studies. She holds a joint appointment with the university's School of Medicine, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach to health communication research. Crosswell previously taught at the College of Charleston, Louisiana State University, and Arizona State University before joining UNR.

Her research focuses on the intersection of consumerism, persuasive texts, and public health messaging, with particular attention to how commercial interests influence health communication. Crosswell frequently employs advanced eye-tracking technology to examine physiological and psychosocial responses to media content, especially in pharmaceutical advertising and public health campaigns. Her book Politics, Propaganda, and Public Health: A Case Study in Health Communication and Public Trust analyzes Merck's Gardasil vaccination campaign, exploring how corporate interests shape public health messaging.

Crosswell's recent publications reveal consistent focus on contemporary health communication challenges, particularly surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine hesitancy, and environmental health risks. Her work spans multiple disciplines including communication, public health, psychology, and medical education, often employing innovative methodologies like virtual reality simulations and biometric measurement.

• Recipient of Organizational Behavior Management (OBM) Innovative Research Award, 2023
• Co-author of scholarly book on pharmaceutical marketing and public health trust
• Regular contributor to journals including Critical Public Health, Public Health Perspectives, and Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences

Crosswell has received recognition for her innovative research approaches that bridge communication theory with practical health applications. Her work examining virtual reality applications in healthcare education demonstrates her commitment to developing new methodologies for training healthcare professionals. With numerous forthcoming publications for 2025, she remains an active contributor to the field of health communication research.