Kendal Lyssy is a third-year  doctoral student studying interpersonal and family communication. Her research program explores family difference through the use and telling of narratives. She studies how parents tell their children narratives about such topics as disability, adoption, and religion. She also explores the ways in which adults who are adopted here narratives and messages about adoption and religion through the church. She is also interested in how adults who are adopted cope with experiences of family estrangement and other adverse familial events. Kendal is passionate about DEI initiatives, specifically digital accessibility. She is seeking to make a positive difference at Mizzou through collaborating with the IT Accessibility Center to make websites at Mizzou more accessible for all users. Through this work, Kendal endeavors to celebrate the voices of individuals with disabilities through her applied work. 

Kendal received her BA and MA from the university of North Texas, where she not only conducted research but also was an active participant in the classroom. Kendal has teaching experience in debate and argumentation courses as well as in health communication and communication theory. At Mizzou, Kendal is teaching Public Speaking, where she endeavors to make a positive difference in students’ experiences taking the course. She is active in the National Communication Association as well as the Central States Communication Association and has presented work at both conferences. Outside of research and teaching, Kendal can be found hanging out with friends, going to the latest coffee shops, trying the latest mochas (or pumpkin spice lattes in the fall), and working out among many other hobbies.