Wahed CV

Education

PhD (Expected August 2026)
Communication Studies (Interpersonal, Family & Health Communication), University of Nebraska-Lincoln
CGPA: 3.87/4.00
Research focus: Art-based research, cultural stigma, and mental health among racial/ethnic communities/individuals.

M.S. (May 2020)
Organizational Communication, Murray State University – Kentucky, USA
CGPA: 3.80/4.00

Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) (April 2013)
Major in Marketing, Southeast University – Dhaka, Bangladesh
CGPA: 3.94/4.00
Recipient of Vice Chancellor’s Medal for securing 1st position among all undergraduate students at the School of Business Studies.

Academic Positions

Graduate Teaching Assistant
Department of Communication Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
August 2021 – Present

Graduate Teaching Assistant
Department of Communication Studies, Murray State University, Kentucky
August 2018 – May 2020

Teaching Experience

  • Interpersonal Communication (COM 283), University of Nebraska-Lincoln, August 2023 – December 2023
  • Business Communication (COM 286), University of Nebraska-Lincoln, August 2021 – Present
  • Basic Public Speaking (COM 161), Murray State University, August 2018 – May 2020

Departmental Service

  • President, Communication Department Graduate Student Association (COMM dGSA), University of Nebraska-Lincoln, August 2023 – August 2024
  • Graduate Student Representative, Department Governing Body (DGB), University of Nebraska-Lincoln, August 2022 – August 2024
  • Graduate Student Representative, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, August 2022 – August 2024

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Book Chapter

  • Palmer-Wackerly, A. L. & Wahed, K. H. (2025). Rooted in “places and spaces”: Sense-making about identity, culture, and health in the rural Midwest. In C. L. Fisher, C. Fowler, J. Krieger, M. Pitts, A. K. Worthington, & J. F. Nussbaum (Eds.), Health Communication, Language, and Social Action Across the Life Span.

Article

  • Palmer-Wackerly, A. L., Coffey, J., Wheeler, L. A., Emmerich, C., Gonzalez, L., Chaidez, V., Acosta, L., Tippens, J. A., Wahed, K. H., & Chai, W. (2025). Centering U.S. rural, immigrant Latinx adolescent voices through narrative mapping: Exploring a novel approach to communicated narrative sense-making. Health Communication. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2025.2499751

Manuscripts in Progress

  • Wahed, K.H., & Palmer-Wackerly, A. L. (in progress). Factors that affect U.S. international students’ self-efficacy in mental health management. In preparation for submission to Health Communication.
  • Wahed, K.H., & Stahl, H. (in progress). Asian American health behavior regarding sexually transmitted infection management. In preparation for submission to Health Communication.
  • Wahed, K.H., & Palmer-Wackerly, A. L. (in progress). “Shrinking your speech monster using your superpowers”: Addressing concerns about public speaking while developing strategies to reduce speech anxiety. In preparation for submission to Communication Teacher.
  • Kang, J. S., Njiru, L., Al-Rishawi, S., Tettevie Lawson, F., Palmer-Wackerly, A. L., Wahed, K. H., Okwarah, P., Lakati, A., Makena Micheni, L., Alima, S., Moi, D., Kagenyi, S. M., Muchiri, M., Mwaura, I., Anyona, G., Holstein, J., Ngetich, E., & Tippens, J.A. (submitted, February 2025). "We don’t have mental stress, we have life stress”: The social and structural determinants of mental health among older refugees and refugees living with disabilities in Nairobi, Kenya.

Popular Press Articles

Conference Papers & Presentations

  • Wahed, K.H., & Palmer-Wackerly, A. L. (November 2023). Drawing in two hands: Communication accommodation with people from different cultural backgrounds. Paper presented to the Greatest Ideas for Teaching Students (GIFTS) Division at the National Communication Association, Washington, DC.
  • Wahed, K.H., & Palmer-Wackerly, A. L. (July 2025). Shrinking your speech monster using your superpowers: Addressing concerns about public speaking while developing strategies to reduce speech anxiety. Paper accepted for the GIFTS Division at the National Communication Association, Denver, Colorado.
  • Taladay-Carter, C., Nabi, A., Richards, S., Hornberger, B., Shadoan, S., Smith, H., Szelag, R., Stahl, H., Wahed, K. H., & Kaur-Gill, S. (July 2025). The graduate classroom as a site for critical reflexivity in (un)learning culture in health communication: A collaborative autoethnography. Paper accepted for the Instructional Development Division, 111th Annual NCA Convention, Denver, Colorado.

Poster Presentation

  • Kang, J. S., Njiru, L., Al-Rishawi, S., Tettevie Lawson, F., Palmer-Wackerly, A. L., Wahed, K.H., Okwarah, P., Lakati, A., Makena Micheni, L., Alima, S., Moi, D., Kagenyi, S. M., Muchiri, M., Mwaura, I., Anyona, G., Holstein, J., Ngetich, E., & Tippens, J.A. (February 2025). "We don’t have mental stress, we have life stress”: The social and structural determinants of mental health among older refugees and refugees living with disabilities in Nairobi, Kenya. Poster presented at the 2025 Health Equity Conference, Minority Health Disparities Initiative, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Webinars Conducted

  • Wahed, K.H. (2021). Mental health and communication. Futurizers Bangladesh, Media Partner FB TV.
  • Wahed, K.H. (2020). Role of etiquette & manners in communication. Futurizers Bangladesh, Media Partner FB TV.

International Employment Experience

  • Marketing Trainer, Proactive Academy, Dhaka, Bangladesh, February 2018 – July 2018
  • Marketing Executive, Astha IT Research & Consultancy Firm, Dhaka, Bangladesh, January 2017 – January 2018
  • Marketing Executive, Unibrands, Dhaka, Bangladesh, August 2016 – December 2016
  • Marketing Executive, Lenet Cleaning Factory, Kanagawa, Japan, August 2013 – March 2016

Awards & Certificates

  • Graduate Certificate in Organizational Dynamics, Murray State University, KY, USA
  • Certificate in Japanese Language, YMCA (Kanagawa, Japan)
  • Vice Chancellor’s Gold Medal for 1st position in undergraduate program, Southeast University, Bangladesh

Skills

  • Languages: Bangla, English, Japanese, Hindi, Urdu
  • Teaching Platforms: McGraw Hill, Vantage