Marjorie Kruvand

Marjorie Kruvand is a Lecturer in the Writing Program at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). She teaches courses such as Writing for Public Relations, Professional Writing for Global Careers, Science Writing for the Public, and Journalism and News Writing. Her research focuses on health and science communication, bioethical issues in media coverage, and the dynamics between public relations professionals and journalists.

Dr. Kruvand holds a Ph.D. from the Missouri School of Journalism (University of Missouri), an M.S. from Medill School of Journalism (Northwestern University), and a B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis. Prior to her academic career, she worked as a reporter at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and as a senior vice president and partner at FleishmanHillard, a global communications firm.

Her scholarly work explores intersections between science, ethics, and media. Key themes include crisis communication during health emergencies, ethical reporting of bioethical issues, and the role of public relations in shaping medical narratives. She has authored over a dozen peer-reviewed articles and book chapters analyzing topics such as the Ebola crisis, face transplants, synthetic biology, and the cultural impact of the birth control pill.

Her publications consistently demonstrate expertise in bridging scientific complexity with public communication needs, emphasizing responsible journalism practices and strategic PR approaches in healthcare contexts.