2024 Bettinghaus Endowed Lecture

Fri, November 15, 2024 2:30 PM - Fri, November 15, 2024 4:00 PM at CAS 145

This year's speaker is Evan K. Perrault (Ph.D., Michigan State University, 2014). He is an Associate Professor of Health Communication in the Brian Lamb School of Communication at Purdue University.

A major research focus for Dr. Perrault is trying to find the best ways healthcare systems can design more effective physician biographies on their websites to help prospective patients more easily find new healthcare providers – especially looking at the potential effectiveness of videos as a means to reduce patient uncertainty.

Additionally, he is interested in translational research – finding ways to distill complex scientific information into pieces of information the lay public can more successfully comprehend and use. He currently co-leads a statewide Community of Practice through AnalytixIN focused on data literacy to help business leaders across Indiana realize how data can help drive better decision-making in their organizations.

He also enjoys designing and implementing strategic communication campaigns, and determining the best ways to evaluate their impact. For example, he has worked with clients such as Rolls-Royce to develop a cybersecurity campaign for their global defense workforce, as well as on CDC-funded initiatives across Indiana to develop novel messaging approaches to promote health and wellbeing to communities. His most recent work is as a Co-PI on a USDA-funded project to create communication strategies to improve biosecurity among backyard poultry owners. 

His research has been published in an array of journals including: Journal of Health Communication, Health Communication, Communication Research, Journal of Applied Communication Research, Journal of Communication in Healthcare, Family Medicine, Journal of Community Health, and the Journal of General Internal Medicine. See his Google Scholar profile here.

Prior to joining the Purdue faculty, Dr. Perrault served two years on the faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Before attending and completing graduate school at Michigan State University, he worked as a television news reporter at stations in Wausau and Green Bay, WI.

The Bettinghaus Endowed Lecture was endowed by Erving Bettinghaus, former Dean of the college who is a major donor to ComArtSci. Though he lives in Colorado, he watches the lecture via livestream and takes an interest in how his donations are being used. It is expected that the Bettinghaus lecture will get a write up. A story about the lecture will show Dr. Bettinghaus, and other potential donors, that we appreciate those who donate. 

More Information on the talk to Come!