Meet the team
DR. KATHERINE RAFFERTY - Teaching Professor & Research Director
Dr. Katherine Rafferty (PhD, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee) is a teaching professor at Iowa State University and conducts research in interpersonal health communication. Her research focuses on how patients and families manage and cope with chronic illness and end-of- life care. She is primarily a qualitative scholar, but also uses quantitative methods to examine research questions about family health communication needs. Katherine teaches undergraduate communication courses and mentors undergraduate students in their independent research projects. Dr. Rafferty has been awarded several University awards, including the Student Impact Award from the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (2025), the Faculty Inspiration Award from the ISU Alumni Association (2024), and the COVID-19 Exceptional Team Effort Award (2021) for her contributions with ISU Leadership during the pandemic. She is the co-chair of the Cyclones Support Strategic Communications and Marketing Team. Prior to earning her PhD, Katherine worked as a Health Communication Specialist for the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia.
KRISTEN NEUMANN - Graduate Research Assistant
Kristen Neumann is a third year PhD student in Rhetoric and Professional Communication at Iowa State University. She graduated from Southwest Minnesota State University with a BA in Secondary English and Communication Education. After graduating, she taught high school English and Speech in Minnesota before joining the ISU RPC program, where she currently teaches ENGL 1500 and 2500. Her research interests include health communication – with a specific focus on advance directives and mortality education – family and organizational communication dynamics, and writing education.
CIZA FABIOLA - Undergraduate Research Assistant & McNair Fellow
Ciza Fabiola is an undergraduate student at Iowa State University, double-majoring in Healthcare Management and Management Information Systems. She is a McNair Scholar, preparing to pursue her master’s and PhD with a focus on improving healthcare access and equity. Her academic work emphasizes the importance of diversity and the experiences of people of color in healthcare, with a particular interest in healthcare communications, ensuring that patients and communities receive clear, culturally competent, and equitable information. At Iowa State, Ciza is actively involved in student leadership and service, including her role on the Division of Student Affairs Advisory Board, where she contributes to initiatives that enhance the student experience. She is passionate about healthcare policy, community engagement, and advocacy, exploring ways to address disparities and promote inclusive care.