Dr. Aimee Miller-Ott
Director of the School of Communication & Professor
- About
- Education
- Awards & Honors
- Selected Research
Current Courses
COM 161.001 Convergent Media Writing
COM 350.001 Documentary Film History and Theory
Teaching Interests & Areas
Relational/Interpersonal Communication, Family Communication, Interpersonal/Family Communication and Aging, Dark Side of Interpersonal Communication, Mobile Technology in Relationships
Research Interests & Areas
The negotiation of cell phone communication in personal relationships; the presentation and negotiation of identity in interpersonal relationships. I have studied these interests in a variety of contexts (e.g., romantic relationships, friendships, post-divorce relationships, foster families, parent-child relationships, women’s peer relationships), through different theories (e.g., Facework Theory, Politeness Theory, Communication Privacy Management Theory).
Ph D Interpersonal and Family Communication/Instructional Communication
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
MA Interpersonal Communication
California State University
Fullerton
BS Speech Communication
Northern Arizona University
Outstanding College Researcher in Humanities Award
Illinois State University College of Arts and Sciences
2022
Dawn O. Braithwaite Qualitative Research Award
Central States Communication Association
2022
University Outstanding Teacher Award
Illinois State University
2019
College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Teacher Award
2017
Jamie Comstock Award
School of Communication
2017
Humanities Center Faculty Fellow
“Seeking Love after Divorce” for “Love and Desire” Humanities Seminar
2013
Excellence in Teaching Award
National Society of Leadership and Success, University of Hartford
2012
Grants and Contracts
Faculty Research Award (FRA): Parent-Teenage Daughter Communication about Social Media Usage
Aimee Miller-Ott.
University Research Grant. July 2021 - June 2022
Experiences of Biological Children in Foster Families
Aimee Miller-Ott.
CAS URG. 2018 - 2019
Dark Side of Cell Phones in Romantic Relationships
Aimee Miller-Ott.
CAS URG. 2016 - 2017
Voluntary Parents’ Fund Grant
Aimee Miller-Ott.
University of Hartford. 2012 - 2013
Coffin Grant
Aimee Miller-Ott.
University of Hartford. 2011 - 2012
Voluntary Parents’ Fund Grant
Aimee Miller-Ott.
University of Hartford. 2011 - 2012
Women’s Education and Leadership Fund
Aimee Miller-Ott.
University of Hartford. 2010 - 2011
Book, Authored
Higher Education as the Lifeline to Social Mobility for Former Foster Youth: A Comprehensive Needs and Assets Assessment
Doris Houston, Christopher Gjesfjeld, Aimee Miller-Ott, Tiffany Gholson, Lauretta Schaefer, Marquise Brown.
Center for Child Welfare and Adoption Studies
Book, Chapter
A roadmap to career success: Pursuing careers outside of the academy for MA graduates
Stephen Hunt, Aimee Miller-Ott, Viraj Patel.
(2022), By Degrees: Resilience, Relationships, and Success in Communication Graduate Studies, Cognella
Face theory: The ongoing performances of our lives
Aimee Miller-Ott, Cimmiaron Alvarez.
(2022), Engaging Theories in Interpersonal Communication (3rd edition), Routledge
Connection or intrusion? Mother-daughter communication through technology.
Aimee Miller-Ott, Lynne Kelly.
(2019), .), Constructing Motherhood and Daughterhood Across the Lifespan.
My mom has been gone for a while, but she’s still alive…” Communicating as a child of a parent with Alzheimer’s disease
Aimee Miller-Ott.
(2019), Casing the family: Theoretical and applied approaches to understanding family communication., Kendall Hunt
We talk like friends versus she’s just my mom:” Openness and closeness in the mother/married daughter relationship
Aimee Miller-Ott.
(2019), Constructing Motherhood and Daughterhood Across the Lifespan.
Book, Edited
Communicating Mental Health: History, Concepts, & Perspectives.
Lance Lippert, Robert Hall, Aimee Miller-Ott, Daniel Davis.
(2019), Lexington Books
Journal Article
“I Needed to Aim Higher:” Former Foster Youths’ Pathways to College Success
Deneca Winfrey Avant, Aimee Miller-Ott, Doris Houston.
Journal of Child and Family Studies, 30 (4), 1043-1058, (2021), 10.1007/s10826-020-01892-1
“I needed to aim higher:” Former foster youths’ pathways to college success.
Deneca Winfrey Avant, Aimee Miller-Ott, Doris Houston.
Journal of Child and Family Studies, 30 (4), 1043-1058, (2021)
“She’s truly just the oven for us:” Discourse dependency in families of children born through a surrogate
Aimee Miller-Ott, K. Megan Hopper.
Western Journal of Communication, Advance online publication, (2021)
“Just a heads up, my father has Alzheimer’s:” Changes in communication and identity of adult children of parents with Alzheimer’s Disease
Aimee Miller-Ott.
Health Communication, 35, 119-126, (2020)
Boundary management strategies reflecting the discourse-dependent nature of work-spouse relationships.
Aimee Miller-Ott.
Qualitative Research Reports in Communication, (2019)
"I knew college was in the cards for me:" The role of memorable messages in foster youth's post-secondary education decisions
LaShawnda Kilgore, Aimee Miller-Ott.
Ohio Journal of Communication, 57, 19-32, (2019)
Invisible pain: A look at women’s (non)disclosure of fibromyalgia in the workplace.
Robert Hall, Aimee Miller-Ott.
Ohio Communication Journal, 51 (2x), 223-257, (2019)
Phubbing friends: Understanding face threats from, and responses to, friends’ cell phone usage through the lens of politeness theory.
Lynne Kelly, Aimee Miller-Ott, L. Duran.
Communication Quarterly, 67 (5), 540-559, (2019)
“Just a heads up, my father has Alzheimer’s:” Changes in communication and identity of adult children of parents with Alzheimer’s Disease.
Aimee Miller-Ott.
Health Communication, (2018)
Perceived miscommunication in friends’ and romantic partners’ texted conversations.
Lynne Kelly, Aimee Miller-Ott.
Southern Communication Journal, 83, 267-280, (2018)
A Politeness Theory Analysis of Cell-Phone Usage in the Presence of Friends
Aimee Miller-Ott, Lynne Kelly.
Communication Studies, 68 (2), 190-207, (2017), 10.1080/10510974.2017.1299024
A politeness theory analysis of cell phone usage in the presence of friends.
Aimee Miller-Ott, Lynne Kelly.
Communication Studies, (68), 190-207, (2017)
Developing and Maintaining Foster Family Identity Through Foster Parents’ Identity Work
Aimee Miller-Ott.
Journal of Family Communication, 17 (3), 208-222, (2017), 10.1080/15267431.2017.1293061
Helicopter Parenting and Cell-Phone Contact between Parents and Children in College
Lynne Kelly, Robert L. Duran, Aimee Miller-Ott.
Southern Communication Journal, 82 (2), 102-114, (2017), 10.1080/1041794x.2017.1310286
Sports Scores and Intimate Moments: An Expectancy Violations Theory Approach to Partner Cell Phone Behaviors in Adult Romantic Relationships
Lynne Kelly, Aimee Miller-Ott, Robert L. Duran.
Western Journal of Communication, 81 (5), 619-640, (2017), 10.1080/10570314.2017.1299206
Competing Discourses and Meaning Making in Talk about Romantic Partners’ Cell-Phone Contact with Non-Present Others
Aimee Miller-Ott, Lynne Kelly.
Communication Studies, 67 (1), 58-76, (2016), 10.1080/10510974.2015.1088876
Helicopter Parenting, Family Communication Patterns, and Out-of-Class Communication with College Instructors
Aimee Miller-Ott.
Communication Research Reports, 33 (2), 173-176, (2016), 10.1080/08824096.2016.1154836
The Presence of Cell Phones in Romantic Partner Face-to-Face Interactions: An Expectancy Violation Theory Approach
Aimee Miller-Ott, Lynne Kelly.
Southern Communication Journal, 80 (4), 253-270, (2015), 10.1080/1041794x.2015.1055371
The role of mobile phones in romantic relationships
R L Duran, Aimee Miller-Ott, L Kelly.
IGI Global, (2015)
Cell Phone Usage Expectations, Closeness, and Relationship Satisfaction Between Parents and Their Emerging Adults in College
Aimee Miller-Ott, Lynne Kelly, Robert L. Duran.
Emerging Adulthood, 2 (4), 313-323, (2014), 10.1177/2167696814550195
Communication of Female Relational Aggression in the College Environment
Aimee Miller-Ott, Lynne Kelly.
Qualitative Research Reports in Communication, 14 (1), 19-27, (2013), 10.1080/17459435.2013.835338
Factors That Influence Separated and Divorced Parents' Sharing of Personal Information With Dating Partners
Aimee Miller-Ott.
Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 54 (4), 282-294, (2013), 10.1080/10502556.2013.780464
Mean Girls in College: An Analysis of How College Women Communicatively Construct and Account for Relational Aggression
Aimee Miller-Ott, Lynne Kelly.
Women's Studies in Communication, 36 (3), 330-347, (2013), 10.1080/07491409.2013.829792
Romantic Partners’ Use of Facework and Humor to Communicate About Sex
Aimee Miller-Ott, Alicia Linder.
Qualitative Research Reports in Communication, 14 (1), 69-78, (2013), 10.1080/17459435.2013.835344
The Multivocality of Meaning Making: An Exploration of the Discourses College-Aged Daughters Voice in Talk about Their Mothers
Meredith Marko Harrigan, Aimee Miller-Ott.
Journal of Family Communication, 13 (2), 114-131, (2013), 10.1080/15267431.2013.768249
The effects of cell phone usage rules on satisfaction in romantic relationships
Aimee Miller-Ott, L Kelly, R L Duran.
Communication Quarterly, 60, 1-18, (2012)
Ex-spouses’ relational satisfaction as a function of coparental communication in stepfamilies
P Schrodt, Aimee Miller-Ott, D O Braithwaite.
Communication Studies, 62 (3), 272-290, (2011)
The role of social support in young women’s communication about the genital HPV vaccine
Aimee Miller-Ott, W T Durham.
Women’s Studies in Communication, 34, 183-201, (2011)
Other
Final Report-Higher Education as the Lifeline to Social Mobility for Former Foster Youth: A Comprehensive Needs and Assets Assessment.
Doris Houston, Christopher Gjesfjeld, Deneca Winfrey Avant, Aimee Miller-Ott, Tiffany Gholson.
Spencer Foundation Small Research Grants, N/A (N/A), 52, (2017)
Communication in Single-Parent Families
Aimee Miller-Ott.
Wiley-Blackwell, 1-5, (2015), 10.1002/9781118540190.wbeic069
Presentations
Relationships among fear of negative evaluation, social media anxiety, and posting content and motivations on Instagram
James Keaten, Lynne Kelly, Aimee Miller-Ott.
National Communicaiton Association, National Harbor, MD, November, 2023
Understanding proximal discourses in residential facility care providers’ communication with family members of a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease
Aimee Miller-Ott, Tristin Evans.
National Communication Association, National Harbor, MD, November, 2023
“This is muddier than I thought it would be:” Parents’ sense-making of their role in young daughters’ social media use.
Aimee Miller-Ott, Lynne Kelly, Samantha Schultz.
International Communication Association Annual Meeting, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, May, 2023
“Never answer strangers, never message people I don’t know:” College women’s recollections of parental mediation when first joining social media.
Aimee Miller-Ott, Lynne Kelly.
Central States Communication Association, St. Louis, MO, March, 2023
"“I just like to share my life with my partner:” Mobile phone integration in romantic partners’ face-to-face interactions”
Lynne Kelly, Aimee Miller-Ott.
National Communication Association, New Orleans, LA, November, 2022
Family Communication and Alzheimer’s Disease
Aimee Miller-Ott.
Senior Care Network monthly meeting, Normal, IL, September 14, 2022
Physical disability in romantic relationships: Exploring how women with visible physical disabilities navigate conversations about their identity with male romantic partners.
Lisa DeWeert, Aimee Miller-Ott.
National Communication Association, Seattle, WA, November, 2021
The impact of shyness and fear of negative evaluation on likelihood of and factors associated with posting on Instagram
J. Keaten, L. Kelly, Aimee Miller-Ott.
National Communication Association, Seattle, WA, November, 2021
The polite abuser: Using politeness theory to examine emotional abuse.
Cimmiaron Alvarez, Aimee Miller-Ott.
National Communication Association, Seattle, WA, November, 2021
Transforming applied qualitative research in the time of COVID-19: Lessons taught, lessons learned.
Aimee Miller-Ott.
National Communication Association, Seattle, WA, November, 2021
Spotlight panel on mental health (Part #1): Studying mental health in interpersonal relationships and families
Aimee Miller-Ott, Lance Lippert.
Central States Communication Association, Online, November, 2020
Spotlight panel on mental health (Part #2): Studying mental health within organizational structures.
Aimee Miller-Ott, Lance Lippert.
National Communication Association, Online, November, 2020
“Put your phone away and pay attention to me:” Interactants' responses to being phubbed.
Aimee Miller-Ott, Lynne Kelly, R. L. Duran.
National Communication Association, Online, November, 2020
“She’s truly just the oven for us:” The discursive construction of “normal” family by parents of children born through a surrogate.
Aimee Miller-Ott, K. Megan Hopper.
National Communication Association, Baltimore, MD, November, 2020
“They are supposed to be there for me:” Using thematic analysis to understand sexual assault disclosures in Hispanic families.
Alyssa Hernandez, Aimee Miller-Ott.
National Communication Association, Online, November, 2020
Biological children’s communication and experiences in foster families.
Aimee Miller-Ott.
National Communication Association, Baltimore, MD, November, 2019
Phubbing with friends: Understanding face threats from, and responses to, friends’ cell phone usage through the lens of politeness theory
Lynne Kelly, Aimee Miller-Ott, R. L. Duran.
International Communication Association, Washington DC, May, 2019
Former Foster Youth in College: A Needs and Assets Assessment
Christopher Gjesfjeld, Doris Houston, Aimee Miller-Ott, Tiffany Gholson.
2017 Annual AERA Conference, San Antonio, Texas, April, 2017
Former Foster Youth in College: A Needs and Assets Assessment.
Doris Houston, Christopher Gjesfjeld, Aimee Miller-Ott, Tiffany Gholson, .
AERA 2017 Annual Meeting, San Antonio, Texas, April 27, 2017