Rate My Professor Mary Beth Asbury

Dr. Mary Beth Asbury is Professor and Chair of the Department of Communication Studies at Middle Tennessee State University, leading the Communications faculty. She earned her Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Kansas after graduate studies at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and a bachelor's degree in Speech Communication from the University of Georgia. Asbury joined MTSU in 2011 following her doctoral training and has risen to her current professorial and administrative role.

Asbury's research examines interpersonal and health communication, with particular emphasis on weight stigma within family dynamics, romantic relationships, and body image concerns. Her work addresses identity, intergroup communication across health, interpersonal, and organizational domains, including obesity stigma and politeness in interactions. Select publications encompass "Understanding the Relationship Between Family Communication and the Development of Weight Stigma" in Health Psychology Report (2016, with A. Woszidlo), "Coping with Obesity: The Use of Problem- and Emotion-Focused Strategies on Weight Watchers.com Message Boards" in Ohio Communication Journal, "Assessing Grief in Family Caregivers of Individuals With Alcohol Use Disorder or Substance Use Disorder Using the Marwit-Meuser Caregiver Grief Inventory Short Form" in Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment (2020, with D. Priddis), "Changes in Body Esteem After Viewing a 3D Full-Body Representation of Oneself" in Social Behavior Research and Practice Open Journal (2017), "The Stickiness of Weight Stigma: An Examination of Residual Weight Stigma, Stigma Targets, and Willingness to Date" (2017, with J.M.W. Kratzer), "Civilized (Trans)gressions: Gender, Health, and the Diverging Valence of Trans* Stigma," and "Exploring Weight Stigma in Interpersonal Interactions" in Communication Monographs (2025). She was awarded the Dwight L. Freshley Outstanding New Teacher Award by the Southern States Communication Association in 2015. Additionally, Asbury serves as a Mental Health First Aid instructor, promoting stigma reduction through narrative sharing, and has engaged in applied projects like developing diversity policies for Nissan via MTSU's Tennovation program. She regularly provides expert commentary on communication strategies for difficult conversations and professional interviews in local media.