Elizabeth K. Eger, Ph.D.
Associate Professor,
Department of Communication Studies
Communicating Texas Librarians’ Program Needs and Creating Possibilities for Future Community Resiliency, Public Health, and Workforce Development in Texas Libraries
Research Area:
Organizational communication, work and health communication, intersectionality, organizational identity, community collaboration, and LGBTQ+ work, organizing, and health
Faculty Fellows Project:
Dr. Elizabeth K. Eger is collaborating with librarians and communities across Texas to identify local needs for rural community resilience, public health resources, and workforce development. Dr. Eger uses a community collaboration approach to implement COPEWELL (Composite of Post-Event Well-Being), a framework for community resiliency developed by Johns Hopkins University. Her project positions librarians as community conveners and leaders for rural community resilience planning. To date, Dr. Eger has collaborated with two rural Texas communities where the project was highly embraced and the impacts are evident. Her work leverages a partnership with the Texas State Library and Archives Commission to inform future program development and resiliency resources for Texas communities.
Background:
While Dr. Eger’s research with THRC focuses on libraries and rural community resilience collaboration, her current research also examines presenteeism (working while sick), LGBTQ+ workers and health inequity, and COVID-19 organizational, work, and health communication practices.
Dr. Eger teaches in the Department of Communication Studies at Texas State University. She obtained her PhD from the University of Colorado Boulder where she also received certificates in Critical Theory as well as in Women and Gender Studies.