
Dr. Renee Bourdeaux
Assistant Professor
Communication
- Ph.D. North Dakota State University, 2016
- M.A. University of North Dakota, 2001
- B.A. University of North Dakota, 1997
Email: renee.bourdeaux@northwestu.edu
Direct: 425-889-5312
Background
Renee Bourdeaux grew up on a farm in a very small town in North Dakota. When it was time to go to college, Renee was drawn to communication. While she was attending the University of North Dakota to get her B.A. in Communication, Renee also became a Resident Assistant. She enjoyed working in the halls so much that she went on to get a Master’s degree in Communication while she worked as a Hall Director. Once she earned her M.A., Renee had many career adventures in life: Residence Hall Director, Complex Director, and Vice President of Communication and Marketing.
Before long, Renee went back to get her Ph.D. so that she could be a full-time faculty member, earning her doctoral degree in the Department of Communication at North Dakota State University. Renee’s expertise is in interpersonal communication, and her passion lies in researching positivity and resilience in romantic relationships.
Specialties in Communication
- Public Speaking
- Interpersonal Communication
- Love and Communication
- Family Communication
- Positive Communication
- Communication Theory
- Conflict Resolution
Publications
Bourdeaux, R. (2019). Communicating Love in Relationships. Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt Publishing.
Bourdeaux, R. (2019). Love and communication: A partner service project. Journal of Christian Teaching Practice, 6(1).
Beck, S. J., Paskewitz, E., Anderson, W., Bourdeaux, R., & Mueller, J. (2017). The task and relational dimensions of online social support. Health Communication, 32(3), 347-355. doi: 10.1080/10410236.2016.1138383
Bourdeaux, R., & Schoenack, L. (2016). Nontraditional student expectations and experience with online learning environments. Journal of Continuing Higher Education, 64(3), 152-161.
Beck, S. J., Bourdeaux, R., DiTunnariello, N., & Paskewitz, E. (2016). A review and technological consideration of the Bona Fide Group Perspective. Small Group Research.
Anderson, W., Motto, J., & Bourdeaux, R. (2014). Getting what they want: Aligning student expectations of advising with perceived advisor behaviors. Mid-Western Educational Researcher, 26(1), 27-51.
Platt, C. A., Bourdeaux, R., & DiTunnariello, N. (2014). Should I text or should I call?: How college students navigate mediated connections with family. Communication and Information Technologies Annual (Doing and Being Digital: Mediated Childhoods), 8, 75-101. doi: 10.1108/S2050-206020140000008019
Select Presentations
Bourdeaux, R., Drivdahl, S., & Netterfield, C. (2019, June). Primary stories told in marriages. Poster session presented at the meeting of the International Association of Relationship Research mini-conference, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Waterman, A., Lustyuk, A., Blay, J., Yao, X., Daher, L., & Bourdeaux, R. (2018, November). The Christian narrative around online dating & how it shapes single Christian's rationale for using online dating. Paper presented in the Religious Communication Association Interest Group Division at the meeting of the National Communication Association, Salt Lake City, UT. **Recipient of Religious Communication Association’s Divisional Award in Communication Studies**
Bourdeaux, R., DiTunnariello, N., & Platt, C. A. (2018, November). Contrapuntal analysis of family communication: Examining dialects in emerging adulthood. Paper presented in the Family Communication Interest Group Division at the meeting of the National Communication Association, Salt Lake City, UT.
Bourdeaux, R., Helmcke, C, & Mari, W. (2017, November). Immigration encounter: Relevance of emotions in communication. Paper presented in the Great Ideas for Teaching Students at the meeting of the National Communication Association, Dallas, TX.
Bourdeaux, R., & Schoenack, L. (2015, November). Non-traditional student expectations and experiences in an online learning environment. Paper presented in the Instructional Development Division at the meeting of the National Communication Association, Las Vegas, NV. **Top Student Paper**
Certifications
- College Teaching Certificate (earned at North Dakota State University)
Professional Memberships
- International Association of Relationship Research
- National Communication Association
- Religious Communication Association
- Christianity and Communication Studies Network
Honors/Awards
- Outstanding Graduate Student Research Award for the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at North Dakota State University: May 2016
- Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award for the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at North Dakota State University: May 2014
Recommended Reading
- The Bible
- Keep your love on!: Connection, communication & boundaries by Danny Silk
- Authentic happiness: Using the new positive psychology to realize your potential for lasting fulfillment by Martin Seligman