Education
Ph.D., Communication Science, 2015
University of Wisconsin-Madison
M.A., Mass Communication, 2011
Marquette University
B.S., Communication, 2005
Drury University
Current Academic Appointments
Interim Director of the Strategic Research Institute
St. Norbert College
Associate Professor of Communication and Media Studies
St. Norbert College
Course Offerings
- Mass Media
- Media Psychology
- Intimate Relationships and Media
- Netflix: Disruptive Entertainment
- Women and Media
- Media Studies Capstone
Research
Kretz, V. E. (2024). “It’s a fun escape from reality”: Why viewers watch Hallmark romance movies. In Carlen Lavigne (Ed.), Critical Perspectives on the Hallmark Channel. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003390473-15
Kretz, V.E. & Hefner, V. (2023.) Feeling better or worse? Women’s social comparison to romantic ideal and challenge content. Psychology of Popular Media. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000509
Hefner, V. & Kretz, V. E. (2021). Does the glass slipper fit? The links between viewing Disney princess films and endorsement of romantic beliefs, relationship contingent self-esteem, and traditional courtship attitudes. Journal of Media Psychology, 33(3), 125-133. https://doi.org/10.1027/1864-1105/a000290
Kretz, V. E. (2020). McDreamy is McDead: Fan responses to a parasocial breakup. Journal of Fandom Studies, 8(2), 147-163. https://doi.org/10.1386/jfs_00014_1
Kretz, V. E. (2020). Who feels all the feels? Individual differences in emotional responses to and enjoyment of romantic relationship depictions. Iowa Journal of Communication, 52(2).
Kretz, V. E. (2019). Television and movie viewing predict adults’ romantic ideals and relationship satisfaction. Communication Studies, 70(2), 208-234. https://doi.org/10.1080/10510974.2019.1595692
Forthcoming
Kretz, V. E. (2024). Romantic relationships and media: Research at their intersections. Lexington Books.
Editorial Board
Journal of Media Psychology
National Communication Association Involvement
Legislative Assembly Representative, 2024
SNC Involvement
Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Faculty
