Gary Beck

Ph.D. in Communication Studies, The University of Texas at Austin, (2010)

M.A. in Interpersonal Communication, University of Rhode Island, (2004)

B.A. in American History, University of Rhode Island, (2001)

Expertise

Research Interests

Dr. Beck's research examines how communication is utilized in romantic and family relationships to help manage life stressors (i.e., job loss, serious health concerns, relational infidelities). His research program addressing this interest focuses on communication behaviors that contribute to interpersonal resilience. He has been involved in dating and marriage grant-funded lab work, as well as multi-method examinations of relationships over time. Dr. Beck is the co-editor of "Communicating Hope and Resilience Across the Lifespan" (with Dr. Tom Socha, Peter Lang). He is also author of two book chapters, as well as articles in nationally ranked journals such as Communication Monographs, Personal Relationships, and Journal of Social Psychology. He has received top paper honors from the International Communication Association, and presented his research at numerious other national and international conferences.

Articles

Merolla, A. J.., Beck, G. and Jones, A. (2017). Memorable Messages as Sources of Hope. Communication Quarterly 65 (4) , pp. 456-480.

Beck, G. (2016). Surviving Involuntary Unemployment Together: The Role of Resilience-Promoting Communication in Familial and Committed Relationships. Journal of Family Communication 16 (4) , pp. 369–385.

Socha, T. J. and Beck, G. A . (2015). Positive Interpersonal Communication and Human Needs: A Review and Proposed Organizing Conceptual Framework. Review of Communication.

Dailey, R. M.., Jin, B., Pfiester, A. and Beck, G. (2011). On-again/off-again dating relationships: what keeps partners coming back?. The Journal of Social Psychology 151 (4) , pp. 417–440.

Dailey, R. M., Pfiester, A., Jin, B. and Beck, G. (2009). On-again/off-again dating relationships: How are they different from other dating relationships?. Personal Relationships 16 (1) , pp. 23–47.

McGlone, M. S., Beck, G. and Pfiester, A. (2006). Contamination and camouflage in euphemisms. Communication Monographs 73 (3) , pp. 261–282.

Books

Beck, G. A. and Socha, T. J. (2015). Communicating Hope and Resilience Across of the Lifespan. Peter Lang.

Book Chapters

Beck, G. and Carr, K. (2017). Children, Parents, & Resilience: Exploring Challenges and Potential of Communication’s Contributions to Developmental Thriving The Children’s Communication Sourcebook New York: Peter Lang Publishing, Inc.

Beck, G. (2017). Theorizing Relational Resilience at Midlife The Middle Years of Marriage New York: Peter Lang Publishing, Inc.

Beck, G., Poole, A. and Ponche, L. (2015). Early and Late Career Employment Transitions: Hope and Resilience into the Unknown Communicating Hope and Resilience across the Lifespan New York: Peter Lang Publishing, Inc.

Beck, G. and Socha, T. (2015). Embracing the insights of “Murphy”: New frontiers of communication, hope, and resilience across the lifespan Communicating Hope and Resilience across the Lifespan New York: Peter Lang Publishing, Inc.

Cheney, G., Beck, G. and Cline, R. (2013). Community Conflict, Ethics, and Civic Engagement The SAGE Handbook of Conflict Communication: Integrating Theory, Research, and Practice.

Vangelisti, A. and Beck, G. (2007). Intimacy and Fear of Intimacy Handbook of Low-cost Interventions to Promote Physical and Mental Health: Theory, Research, and Practice (pp. 395-414) New York: Springer.

Presentations

Beck, G. and Pederson, J. ( 2018). I may not even go to graduation Paper 2018 Southern States Communication Association Convention Nashville, TN.

Lietzenmayer, A. and Beck, G. ( 2017). Developing Professional Identities through ePortfolios: Early Implementation Across a Communication Department Paper 2017 Annual Conference for the Association for Authentic, Experiential, and Evidenced-Based Learning Portland, OR.

Rafferty, K. and Beck, G. ( 2017). You can't do it alone Paper 2017 National Communication Association Convention Dallas, TX.

Beck, G. and Lietzenmayer, A. L. ( 2017). Fostering Hope Through a Communication ePortfolio: Online Professional Identity Development Towards Transitions from Higher Education Paper Instructional Communication Division of the 2017 Central States Communication Association Convention Minneapolis, MN.

Beck, G. and Pederson, J. ( 2017). Transitions from Higher Education and Employment-Seeking: Exploring Hope Theory Through Expressions of Goals and Plans of Emerging Adults Paper Interpersonal Division of the 2017 Southern States Communication Association Convention Greenville, SC.

Merolla, A., Beck, G. and Jones, A. ( 2016). Memorable Messages as Sources of Hope in Relationships, Academics, and Finance Paper 2016 Interpersonal Communication Division of the National Communication Association Convention Philadelphia, PA.

Socha, T. J., Pitts, M., Mirivel, J. and Beck, G. ( 2016). Positive Communication's Civic Callings Paper 2016 National Communication Association Philadelphia, PA.

Tollison, A. C. and Beck, G. ( 2016). Paper Health Communication Division of the 2016 National Communication Association Convention Philadelphia, PA.

Pederson, J. and Beck, G. ( 2016). Advice and Helpful Messages Emerging Adults Receive during Transition from Higher Education: Associations with Dispositional and Enacted Hope Paper Interpersonal Division of the 2016 Southern States Communication Association Convention Austin, TX.

LeVan, S. and Beck, G. ( 2015). The Mediating Effects of Negative Maintenance Behaviors for Military Intimate Partner Perceptions of Physical and Mental Health Stress and Commitment Levels Post-Deployment Paper Interpersonal Division of the 2015 National Communication Association Convention Las Vegas, NV.

Socha, T. J. and Beck, G. ( 2014). Positive Interpersonal Communication and Human Needs: Towards an Organizing Model Paper 2014 Interpersonal Communication Division of the Southern States Communication Association Convention New Orleans, LA.

Tollison, A. C. and Beck, G. ( 2014). Personal-centered Communication in Nurse-Patient Interaction Scripts: Maximizing Effectiveness of AIDET Interaction Protocols Paper Health Communication Division of the National Communication Association Convention Chicago, IL.

Beck, G. and Tollison, A. ( 2013). Responding Resiliently to Job Loss: A Qualitative Investigation of Pre-marital and Married Couples' Communication Paper Applied Communication Division of the 2013 National Communication Association Convention Washington, D.C..

Beck, G. ( 2013). The Persistence of Interpersonal Communication: Longitudinal Analysis of Communication in the Aftermath of Job Loss Paper Interpersonal Communication Division of the 2013 International Communication Association Conference London, UK.

Socha, T. J., Beck, G. and ODU Graduate Class of 2013 ( 2012). Happy Text Time - Positive Communication and Experiential Learning: An Experience Sampling Method Pilot Study Paper 2012 National Communication Association Convention Orlando, FL.

Socha, T. J., Beck, G. and ODU Graduate Class of 2013 ( 2012). Happy Text Time - Positive Communication and Experiential Learning: An Experience Sampling Method Pilot Study Paper 2012 National Communication Association Convention Orlando, FL.

Beck, G. ( 2012). Variations in Interpersonal Resilience and Involuntary Job Loss Across the Lifespan Paper 2012 Virginia Social Science Association Annual Conference Norfolk, VA.

Beck, G. ( 2012). Buffering the Impact of Involuntary Job Loss: Testing the Role of Resilience Promoting Communication Paper Applied Communication Division of the 2012 National Communication Association Convention Orlando, FL.

Beck, G. ( 2011). Invoking Resilience: Development of an Interpersonal Resilience in Romantic Relationships Scale Paper Interpersonal Communication Division of the 2011 National Communication Association Convention New Orleans, LA.

Beck, G. ( 2011). Giving Resilience a Voice: Evaluation of Language Used to Describe Resilient Communication Paper Peace and Conflict Division of the 2011 National Communication Association Convention New Orleans, LA.

Beck, G. ( 2010). Framing Conflict, Turning Points, and Transitions through Metaphor in Romantic Relationships Paper 2010 Peace and Conflict Division of the National Association of Relationship Research Conference San Francisco, CA.

Dailey, R., Beck, G., Jin, B. and Pfiester, A. ( 2008). On-Again/Off-Again Dating Relationships: What Keeps Partners Coming Back? Paper 2008 International Association of Relationship Research Conference Providence, RI.

Beck, G. ( 2008). Naive Reality in Marriage and Divorce Choice Behaviors Paper International Association of Relationship Research Conference Providence, RI.

Dailey, R., Pfiester, R. A., Jin, B., Beck, G. and Clark, G. ( 2007). On-Again/Off-Again Dating Relationships: How Are They Different from Other Dating Relationships? Paper 2007 National Communication Association Conference Chicago, IL.

Parker-Raley, J., Beck, G., Vangelisti, A. and Surra, C. ( 2007). Love Hurts: Impact of Hurtful Messages on Relationship Outcome Variables Paper Interpersonal Communication Division of the 2007 International Communication Association Conference San Francisco, CA.

Beck, G., Parker, J. and Surra, C. A. ( 2006). Daters' Conceptualizations and Use of Root Metaphor Expression in Discussion of their Romantic Relationships Paper 2006 International Association of Relationship Research Conference Crete, Greece.

McGlone, M. S., Beck, G. and Pfiester, A. ( 2006). The Career of a Euphemism: From Contamination to Camouflage Paper 2006 International Communication Association Conference Dresden, Germany.

Beck, G., Stephens, J. and Fukada, K. ( 2005). Power, Frame Analysis, and Paths in College Basketball Practices Paper 2005 National Communication Association Conference Boston, MA.

Beck, G. ( 2004). Sarcastic Family Climates Paper 2004 National Communication Association Conference Chicago, IL.

• 2016: Nominee – “New Faculty Award,”, Old Dominion University Alumni Association
• 2016: Top 3 Paper Award - "Advice and Helpful Messages Emerging Adults Receive during Transitions from Higher Education: Associations with Dispositional and Enacted Hope, 2016 Convention, Southern States Communication Association
• 2015: Shining Star Recognition (Teaching Excellence), Division of Student Engagement and Enrollment (Student Nominated)
• 2015: Joel S. Lewis Faculty Award for Excellence in Student Mentoring, College of Arts & Letters, Old Dominion University
• 2014: Nominee – “New Faculty Award,”, Old Dominion University Alumni Association
• 2008: Professional Development Award, University of Texas at Austin
• 2007: Dean's Office Award, University of Texas at Austin
• 2006: Dean's Office Award, University of Texas at Austin
• 2005: Professional Development Award, Office of Graduate Studies, University of Texas at Austin
• 2003: Hope and Heritage Award, Office of Graduate Studies, University of Texas at Austin
• 1997: Centennial Scholar Award, University of Rhode Island