Laura L. Ellingson

Laura L. Ellingson is the Patrick A. Donohoe, S.J. Professor of Communication at Santa Clara University's College of Arts and Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. in Communication from the University of South Florida (2001), with prior degrees including a B.A. in English (1991), two M.A.s in Writing and Communication (1992, 1997), and a Graduate Certificate in Women’s Studies (2001). Her research integrates feminist perspectives, narrative analysis, and pragmatic approaches to examine healthcare communication and extended family dynamics.

Ellingson’s work emphasizes methodological innovation, including her crystallization framework (2009), embodied research strategies (2017), and lively data engagement (2020). She has authored/co-authored six books, including Communicating in the Clinic (2005) and Where the Aunts Are (2013). Her courses focus on qualitative methods, health communication, gender studies, and body politics.

Her research spans healthcare team interactions, long-term cancer survivorship experiences, and the role of aunts in familial networks. Notable awards include the National Communication Association's Distinguished Scholar designation. Her recent scholarship addresses disability in academia, autoethnography, and embodied research practices.

• Awards: Distinguished Scholar (National Communication Association)
• Key Projects: Ethnographic studies in geriatric oncology, critical health communication frameworks, and feminist kinship analysis
• Teaching: Courses include Qualitative Methods (COMM 111), Gender & Communication (COMM 115), and Body Politics (COMM 114)