PhD – Communication Studies – Colorado State University (Fort Collins, CO)
M.A. – Communication Studies – Colorado State University (Fort Collins, CO)
B.A. – Communication – Ripon College (Ripon, WI)
Interpersonal Communication & Relationships
Humor/Laughter
Dementia & Care partnering
Social Support
Crown College Honors Program
Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. (Mark 8:25)
Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. (Matthew 5:23-24)
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
God’s Word is not only His communication to us, but also a source of evidence of how much He loves and encourages communication. Relationships, interactions, and verbal and nonverbal communication are at the heart of the Bible, and I am passionate about learning more about how we can use human communication to encourage each other and grow closer to God in our walks of faith.
Matter, M. M. (2024). Intervening with laughter: Using laughter/humor to create positive experiences in dementia relationships [Doctoral dissertation, Colorado State University]. Mountain Scholar. (National Communication Association’s Communication & Aging Division: Top Dissertation)
Long, Z., Marshall-McKelvey, K., & Matter, M. M. (2024). Material precarity, performative imperative, and burnout from resilience: Surfacing the dark side of resilience laboring in women’s entrepreneurial stories. Journal of Applied Communication Research, 52(2), 179-198. https://doi.org/10.1080/00909882.2024.2313126
Matter, M. M., & Faw, M. H. (2024). Supporters need support: An exploratory analysis of support marshaling among informal dementia care partners. Western Journal of Communication, 88(3), 651-677. https://doi.org/10.1080/10570314.2023.2252403
Matter, M. M., & Parks, E. S. (2023). Listening in silence: A comparative analysis of communicative behaviors across listening constructs. International Journal of Listening, 37(3), 171-184. https://doi.org/10.1080/10904018.2022.2162903
Faw, M. H., & Matter, M. M. (2023). Social support. In The International Encyclopedia of Health Communication (eds. E. Y. Ho, C. L. Bylund, J. C. M. van Weert, I. Basnyat, N. Bol & M. Dean). https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119678816.iehc0588
Matter, M. M. (2022). Adding amusement to anxiety: Uses of humor in informal caregiver support groups. Communication Quarterly, 71(2), 107-131. https://doi.org/10.1080/01463373.2022.2133621
Faw, M. H., Matter, M. M., & Luzinski, C. H. (2022). Preliminary evaluation and implications of the SPECAL Method as an intervention for informal dementia care partners. Aging & Mental Health, 26(10), 1971-1978. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2022.2032598
Matter, M. M. (2021). Cherished comedy: Appreciative listening and positive humor. Listening: Journal of Communication Ethics, Religion, and Culture, 56(2), 157-166. https://doi.org/10.5840/listening202156222
Matter, M. M. (2020). Made you laugh: The interpretation of interactive laughter within friendships [Master’s Thesis, Colorado State University]. ProQuest.
Matter, M. M. (2013). Beer commercials: A contradiction in communication. Midwest Journal of Undergraduate Research, 3, 41-64.
Matter, M. M., (2013). Gold, silver, bronze, failure: The marginalization of fourth place Olympians. Ripon College Journal of Ethics and Communication, 2, 9-17.
Phi Beta Kappa
Lambda Pi Eta
