Biography
Jessica D. Zurcher received a Ph.D. in Communications from the University of Utah (2016), a M.A. in Mass Communications from Brigham Young University (2011), and a B.S. from Brigham Young University-Idaho in Theatre and Speech Education, minor in English (2008). Her research interests include issues dealing with new media, education, and family communication. Specifically, her dissertation focused on societal perceptions of adolescent exposure to online pornography and parent-child pornography communication.
Zurcher has published in several journals, including Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking and The Journal of Children and Media. She has presented at numerous national and international communication conferences.
In addition to her work in higher education, Zurcher served as an influential educator in secondary education. She instructed students in grades 6-12, developing and implementing curriculum for introductory and advanced theatre classes, English, film, and public speaking. She has taught middle school to graduate level students and is passionate about teaching. She and her husband reside in Draper, UT and enjoy taking long walks with their two dogs, Max and Molly.