Dr. Tafoya is a full professor of Communication Studies at La Sierra University.  She earned her Ph.D. in Human Communication from Arizona State University in 2007. She is a dedicated scholar, educator, and leader in the field of Communication, with over two decades of academic experience. Dr. Tafoya maintains a high level of teaching excellence, research productivity, and academic service. Dr. Tafoya has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to serving her institution, community, and broader communication discipline. She has made significant contributions to both the National Communication Association (NCA) and Western States Communication Association (WSCA).  From 2002, she has taken on numerous leadership roles within these organizations, including but not limited to, Editorial Assistant, Editorial Board member, Member-at-Large for Executive Council, Legislative Assembly representative, Interpersonal Division Conference Planner, and Committee Chair.  Beyond contributing and serving regional and national, professional associations, Dr. Tafoya has held significant administrative and leadership roles in higher education. She previously served as Undergraduate Program Director at the University of Connecticut, overseeing a department with more than 400 majors. She has been the Chair of the Communication Department since 2017, at La Sierra University.  Additionally, she was appointed as the Director of the Division of Pre-Health at La Sierra in 2024. She played a crucial leadership role within the university, serving as Faculty Senate Chair from 2019 to 2023, a tenure that included guiding faculty through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this capacity, she led numerous strategic initiatives, including the development of a Board of Trustees Governance Task Force and a Diversity, Inclusivity, and Equity Task Force. She has served on institution-wide committees critical to the university and operations, such as the Budget and Finance Committee, Academic Planning Council, University Council, Strategic Planning Council, Retention and Title V Council, Buildings and Grounds Committee, Emergency Management Team, and Faculty Senate Steering Committee. Her administrative experience further reflects her ability to lead and manage academic programs effectively.

Her program of research primarily focuses on family communication and interpersonal relationships.  Specifically, her research has explored communication processes and relational quality between siblings based on their relatedness.  In addition, she has conducted a number of studies related to the “dark side” of interpersonal relationships (e.g., aggression, jealousy, infidelity, conflict).  Her recent research has expanded to areas related to gender development, sexual communication, and health communication. Over the past few decades, she has published multiple book chapters and journal articles, presented her scholarly work at regional and national conferences and evaluated others’ scholarly work as a journal/paper reviewer.  She has collaborated with outstanding faculty members from various institutions, including San Diego State University, the University of Connecticut, Arizona State University, and the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Experience teaching over 30 distinct, college-level courses, Dr. Tafoya is a dedicated and experienced educator, who remains committed to interdisciplinary, student-centered learning. Her student evaluations have remained consistently high, reflecting her ability to engage students across a wide range of topics. She is dedicated to fostering an inclusive learning environment for her students and faculty. 

As a scholar, mentor, and leader, Dr. Tafoya embodies the values of dedication, inclusivity, and interdisciplinary excellence.  Dr. Tafoya’s excellence in teaching and mentorship has been widely recognized and acknowledged by receiving the 2010 AAUP Teaching Excellence Award from the University of Connecticut and the Service-Learning Faculty of the Year Award from La Sierra University in 2019. In 2023, she was awarded the Anees A. Haddad Award for Excellence in Advancing the Effectiveness of Faculty Governance.