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Communication Assistant Professors Amanda Cooper and Elizabeth Hintz Named 2025 Early Career Scholars by NCA

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Portrait of Elizabeth Hintz
Portrait of Amanda Cooper

Dr. R. Amanda Cooper, PhD. (image on right), assistant professor of interpersonal communication, has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 Leslie A. Baxter Early Career Award, presented by the Family Communication Division of the National Communication Association (NCA).

Dr. Elizabeth Hintz, PhD. (image on left), assistant professor of health communication, has been honored with the 2025 Early Career Scholar Award from NCA’s Health Communication Division. This marks her third early career accolade from the association—having previously received awards from the Interpersonal Communication and Family Communication divisions in 2023. With this trio of recognitions, Hintz has achieved a rare and distinguished milestone in the field of communication.

These awards celebrate the impactful research and scholarly contributions of Cooper and Hintz, as well as their commitment to advancing their respective areas of study.

Awardees will be formally recognized at the 111th Annual NCA Convention this November.

The National Communication Association is a scholarly society committed to promoting excellence in communication research, education, and practice to enrich lives and foster a more informed and connected world.

UConn Communication Faculty Member Highlights Dementia Care Strategies in UConn 360 Podcast

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Portrait of Amanda Cooper

STORRS, CT. — In recognition of World Alzheimer’s Day on September 21, Assistant Professor of Communication at the University of Connecticut, Dr. Amanda Cooper, PhD., joined the latest episode of the UConn 360 podcast to share insights from her recent research on dementia care and family communication.

Cooper’s recent study, published in the Journal of Family Communication, examines how families can preserve the personhood of loved ones living with dementia. Her work emphasizes the importance of maintaining emotional connections through everyday interactions. Strategies such as expressing affection, engaging in shared storytelling, and affirming identity are shown to help individuals with dementia feel valued and understood.

The podcast episode, titled “Caring For Family Members With Dementia,” explores the practical and emotional dimensions of caregiving. Cooper draws on both academic research and personal experience to offer guidance for families navigating the challenges of dementia-related transitions.

As a new member of the UConn community, Cooper also reflects on the university’s supportive atmosphere for researchers and educators. She notes that the collaborative environment has been instrumental in advancing her work on family communication and end-of-life care.

The full episode is available via the UConn 360 website.