Haley Decker (Ph.D., University of Nebraska–Lincoln) is an assistant professor in residence of communication studies in the Honors College. Originally from Austin, Texas, she earned her B.A. (Communication Studies and Writing) and M.S. (Communication Studies) from Texas Christian University before completing her Ph.D. in Communication Studies at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. At UNLV, she teaches a variety of courses including Honors Public Speaking and Interpersonal Communication in a Diverse Society. Her teaching emphasizes helping students connect communication theory and research to their everyday lives.

Decker’s research focuses on interpersonal, family, and intergroup communication; she is especially interested in how people communicate about and across social identity differences (e.g., neurodivergent, LGBTQ+, religious, political, etc.), and how these interactions shape relationships, identity, and well-being. Her scholarship has appeared in Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, Communication Quarterly, and Communication Research Reports, in addition to national and international communication conferences.

Outside of work, Decker enjoys ice skating, playing board games and video games, painting, and spending time with her partner and two cats (Kisa and Theo).