Evan Perrault

Ph.D., Michigan State University
M.A., Michigan State University
B.A., University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Evan K. Perrault (Ph.D., Michigan State University, 2014) is an Associate Professor of Health Communication in the Brian Lamb School of Communication.

A major research focus for Dr. Perrault is trying to find the best ways healthcare systems can design more effective physician biographies on their websites to help prospective patients more easily find new healthcare providers – especially looking at the potential effectiveness of videos as a means to reduce patient uncertainty and apprehension.

He also enjoys designing and implementing strategic communication campaigns, and determining the best ways to evaluate their impact. For example, he has worked with campus clients to conceptualize and perform interventions around mental health help seeking, and students’ sustainability behaviors.

Additionally, he is interested in translational research – finding ways to distill complex scientific information into pieces of information the lay public can more successfully comprehend and use. Dr. Perrault classifies himself as a mixed-methodologist – using a combination of both quantitative and qualitative methodologies to help answer research questions and to create the most effective messages possible.

His research has been published in an array of journals including: Journal of Health Communication, Health Communication, Journal of Applied Communication Research, Journal of Communication in Healthcare, Family Medicine, and Journal of Cancer Education. See his Google Scholar profile here. He has also presented his research at both national and regional conferences (e.g., National Communication Association, Kentucky Conference on Health Communication, D.C. Health Communication Conference, and the Wisconsin Healthcare Public Relations & Marketing Society Conference).

Prior to joining the Purdue faculty, Dr. Perrault served two years on the faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Before attending and completing graduate school at Michigan State University he worked as a television news reporter at stations in Wausau and Green Bay, WI.