Matthew W. Savage (Ph.D., 2012, Arizona State University) is an assistant professor of health communication in the Department of Communication at the University of Kentucky who is passionate about teaching and research. His research interests focus on the intersection of health, interpersonal, and mass communication. Dr. Savage’s scholarship is conducted within the context of creating and supporting health communication campaigns aimed to deter negative and risky behaviors among adolescents and young adults. To that end, Dr. Savage’s research is centered on team science and community approaches, relying on strong partnerships with educational institutions, government organizations, and non-profits. Currently, he is working on various projects that address adolescent bullying/cyberbullying, oral health promotion, and reciprocal violence. His research has been translated to clinical practice via funding mechanisms supported by the Appalachian Regional Commission and internal grants at the college and university level. When it comes to teaching, Matthew enjoys integrating new technology into his courses and using discussion-based formats as a catalyst for cognitive and affective learning. His teaching philosophy focuses on participatory engagement, the importance of establishing the relevance of course material to real-world experiences, and challenging students to exceed their expectations. He is recognized with prestigious university teaching awards at the University of Kentucky, the University of Hawaii, and Arizona State University.

Awards
eLearning Innovation Initiative 2014-2015; Distance Learning Course Development Grant 2014-2015; College of Communication and Information Excellence in Teaching Award 2014; Summer Faculty Research Fellowship 2013