Laura K. Guerrero (PhD, University of Arizona, 1994) is a professor in the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication at Arizona State University, where she teaches courses in relational communication, nonverbal communication, emotional communication, research methods, and data analysis. She has also taught at the Pennsylvania State University and San Diego State University. Her research focuses on communication in close relationships, such as those between romantic partners, friends, and family members. Her research has examined both the "bright side" of personal relationships, including nonverbal intimacy, forgiveness, relational maintenance, and communication skill, and the "dark side" of personal relationships, including jealousy, hurtful events, conflict, and anger. She recently developed a theoretical framework (hurtful events response theory) to explain patterns of communication following hurtful events in close relationships. Dr. Guerrero has published more than 100 journal articles and chapters related to these topics. In addition to Close Encounters, her book credits include Nonverbal Communication in Close Relationships (coauthored with K. Floyd), Nonverbal Communication (coauthored with J. Burgoon & K. Floyd), The Handbook of Communication and Emotion (coedited with P. Andersen), and The Nonverbal Communication Reader (coedited with M. Hecht). She has received several research awards, including the Early Career Achievement Award from the International Association for Relationship Research, the Dickens Research Award from the Western States Communication Association, and the Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award from the Interpersonal Communication Division of The International Communication Association. Dr. Guerrero serves on editorial boards for several top journals in communication and relationships. She lives in Phoenix (during the school year) and San Diego (during the summer) with her husband, Vico, and their daughters, Gabrielle and Kristiana. She enjoys reading, writing fiction (when not writing nonfiction), dancing, and taking long walks in the mountains or on the beach.
Bree McEwan (PhD, Arizona State University, 2009) is an associate professor in the Institute of Communication, Culture, Information, and Technology at the University of Toronto - Mississauga where she teaches courses on research methods and mediated communication. She has also taught at DePaul University and Western Illinois University. Her research focuses on the intersection between interpersonal and communication technology, with a particular interest in how people manage and maintain networked social relationships. She has published articles related to these topics in journals such as Communication Monographs, Annals of the International Communication Association, New Media & Society, and Social Media + Society. Her other book is Navigating New Media Networks: Understanding and Managing Challenges in a Networked Society (Lexington). She is a recent winner of the Outstanding Article Award from the Human Communication and Technology Division of the National Communication Association and the outstanding Contribution to Communication Science from the Communication Science and Biology Division of the International Communication Association. She serves on the board of Human Communication, and Technology, the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, Communication Studies, and Communication Reports. She enjoys spending time with her husband (Colin), and her children (Branwen, Oriana, and Cael), leads two Girl Scout troops, and loves reading, and her daily yoga practice.
