Colleen M. Tolan (Ph.D., Temple University) is a research associate for the Center for Women in Business (CWIB) at Rutgers University. She holds a B.S. in Journalism and Mass Communications from Kansas University and an MDiv from Princeton Theological Seminary. She earned her Ph.D. in Media and Communication with a focus on conflict communication from Temple University. She has taught Interpersonal Communication, Cross-cultural Leadership, Intercultural Communication, and Public Speaking.
Dr. Tolan’s research examines communication processes that help people form and maintain connections with others, particularly as they navigate difficult conversations or stressful situations with one another. Her recent publications explore the role of expectations and language framing as they relate to decision-making during difficult situations, and her forthcoming work examines these particular nuances as they relate to gender and gender disparities in the workplace.