About the Authors
About the Authors
Sydney E. Brammer, Ph.D. is a graduate of Texas Tech University’s College of Media & Communication’s (CoMC) doctoral program and an assistant professor of mass communication at the University of North Florida. She specializes in research exploring digital and social media, gender, and body image, though she has a long-held interest in interpersonal communication and close relationships. Sydney was awarded the 2023 Student Award for Academic Excellence at the Graduate Level from Texas Tech University’s Women & Gender Studies Award Committee, the 2023 Phenomenal Women of Texas Tech Award from the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and the competitive COVID-19 Dissertation Completion Funding Award and the Helen DeVitt Jones Graduate Fellowship (CoMC) from the Texas Tech University Graduate School. She is a friend and former student-affiliate of the Thomas Jay Harris Institute for Hispanic and International Communication (HIHIC), the former co-lead of the EDi Initiative at TTU alongside co-author Narissra Punyanunt-Carter, and a member of the Lambda Pi Eta honor society for communication studies scholars. Sydney is a certified Master Tutor (Level 3) through the College Reading and Learning Association and is dedicated to advancing equity and inclusion for students everywhere.
Ryan J. Martinez, M.A. is a graduate of Texas Tech University’s Communication Studies master’s program and an incoming doctoral student at the University of Georgia. He is passionate about researching the intricacies of interpersonal relationships.
Narissra M. Punyanunt-Carter, Ph.D. is a full professor in the Communication Studies department at Texas Tech University’s College of Media & Communication. She is an associate editor for the Journal of Intercultural Communication Research & Relationship Research News. She is co-author of Interpersonal Communication: A Mindful Approach to Relationships and co-editor of Communication Begins with Children: A Lifespan Communication Sourcebook and The Impact of Social Media in Modern Romantic Relationships. Narissra teaches interpersonal communication, gender, nonverbal, and romantic relationships, though she specializes in interpersonal communication research. She is very involved in the National Communication Association as she serves on the Leadership Development Committee, is the vice chair of the Human Communication and Technology Division, the chair of the Secondary and Primary Education section, and is the past chair of the Mass Communication and Family Communication Divisions. She is the proud recipient of YWCA’s Women of Excellence in Education Award; National Communication Association’s Thomas L. Veenendall Lambda Pi Eta Advisor of the Year Award; Texas Tech University President’s Mid-Career Award, Texas Tech University’s Honors College Faculty of the Year Award; Professing Excellence Award; Mortar Board’s Outstanding Faculty Award, the James Mignery Collegiality Award, and the National Communication Association Presidential Citation for Service Award. She was recently awarded the 2022 Mentor Tech Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2022 Phenomenal Women of Texas Tech University Award.
