Dr. Analisa Arroyo
Dr. Analisa Arroyo is a proud Lorain alumna whose commitment to leadership and community began early. She participated in volleyball, basketball, track, and softball, was inducted into the National Honor Society, and was elected Senior Class President and Homecoming Queen. Her fondest memories include forming lifelong friendships, being active in Sacred Heart Chapel, and developing deep gratitude for the educators who shaped her path, including Mrs. Bruce, Mr. and Mrs. Clark, Mr. and Mrs. Falenski, Mr. Jones, Mr. Molina, Coach Schue, Mr. and Mrs. Tucker, and Mrs. Vitale, among others. These formative experiences shaped her scholarly commitment to understanding how communication influences well-being, identity, and social change.
Dr. Arroyo earned a B.A. in Communication and Sociology from The Ohio State University in 2008, followed by a M.A. (2010) and Ph.D. (2013) in Communication with a minor in Family Studies and Human Development from the University of Arizona. Her professional credentials include a Certificate in College Teaching, a Certificate in Diversity and Inclusion, and certification as a Body Trust® Specialist.
Dr. Arroyo has been a Professor at the University of Georgia since 2013. Her award-winning, interdisciplinary scholarship examines the importance of close relationships in shaping individuals’ physical, mental, and social well-being. Grounded in communication theory, family studies, and feminist scholarship, her research focuses on three interconnected lines of inquiry: interpersonal communication and body image; the intergenerational transmission of mental health, and the ways social attitudes (such as sexism and racism) are formed, reinforced, or disrupted within interpersonal relationships. Across these areas, her work has played a leading role in advancing and transforming research on health, bodies, and social norms by highlighting how everyday interactions can either uphold or challenge dominant cultural ideals and expectations.
Dr. Arroyo maintains an active and internationally recognized research profile, with more than 40 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, as well as two forthcoming edited volumes. Her scholarship has reached both academic and public audiences, with work featured by outlets such as MSNBC, WebMD, Parents magazine, U.S. News & World Report, and Women’s Health. In addition to her research contributions, she has received numerous teaching and mentoring honors, including the Faculty Excellence Award in 2017 and again in 2026, which is selected by graduate students for exceptional mentorship. Through her teaching of undergraduate and graduate students, Dr. Arroyo empowers learners to think critically about relationships and equips them with practical relational skills to navigate complexity, care for others, and create meaningful social change.
Dr. Arroyo and her husband, Jabre (also an OSU alumnus from Youngstown), are raising their children, Jalen and Eliana, with a deep appreciation for family, identity, and Buckeye pride. Rooted in close relationships with parents, siblings, and extended family, they prioritize keeping their children connected to the people who have shaped them. Along with their dog, Scarlet, they return to Lorain every summer and throughout the year, believing it is essential for their children to know where they come from, experience the vibrant Puerto Rican community uniquely rooted in Lorain, and remain connected to the place they proudly call home.