Assistant Professor
Heritage Hall 305
(205) 934-3877
Research and Teaching Interests: Health Communication, Digital Health Technologies, Emerging Technology Law and Policy, Supply Chain Technology Ethics and Governance, Media and Society, Digital Media, Media Writing and Strategic Communication
Office Hours: By appointment
Education:
- B.S., University of Tennessee Knoxville, Supply Chain Management and Political Science
- J.D., Michigan State University College of Law
- Ph.D., Michigan State University, Information and Media
Dr. Nelson's scholarship sits at the intersection of business, communication, law, health, and emerging technologies. Her research examines the societal and organizational impacts of artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, health communication, digital media, and technology regulation. Her work has appeared in journals such as Telemedicine and e-Health and Social Science & Medicine, and she has presented her research at national and international conferences, including the International Communication Association and the Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences. Dr. Nelson also has an active interest in legal scholarship, particularly in the areas of health law, technology law, blockchain governance, and regulatory policy. She has published and presented work addressing medical AI, blockchain in healthcare, and the legal implications of emerging technologies.
A key focus of her research explores the role of artificial intelligence in healthcare decision-making, patient-provider communication, misinformation, and public health outcomes. She has also conducted research on telemedicine adoption, vaccine communication, privacy concerns surrounding digital health technologies, and legal issues raised by emerging technologies. Her dissertation investigated the impact of artificial intelligence on procurement decision-making by hospital administrators and its implications for preventing counterfeit medical products.