About
Leah E. LeFebvre (PhD, University of Texas) is an interpersonal communication scholar whose research examines the intersection of relationship dissolution, mediated communication, and memory. Her research examines communication processes and the social and technological implications for relational meaning-making and creates understanding of their relationship as they unfold, change, and end.
Dr. LeFebvre’s research also centers on the contemporary relationship lexicon—the evolving language people use to describe modern relational experiences. This evolving relationship lexicon shaped by folklore and contemporary discourse includes ghosting, swiping, friends with benefits, just talking, friendzoning, soulmates, and sexting. She explores shifts in how intimacy, commitment, boundaries, and disengagement are understood and enacted by examining how relationship language emerges and is shared as people navigate connection, uncertainty, and relational change.
In addition to her relational scholarship, Dr. LeFebvre’s scholarship intersects with instructional communication and communication education. This work examines small group communication, pedagogy, and disciplinary trends in communication education, with attention to assumptions surrounding public speaking practices, video-based instruction, and assessment strategies. Throughout her research, Dr. LeFebvre cultivates research perspectives utilizing a variety of methodologies and interdisciplinary approaches to answer scientific inquiries.
Impact Beyond the University
Dr. LeFebvre’s contributions extend beyond the University through their interdisciplinary reach, public-facing dissemination, and applicability to real-world relational challenges. Across her career, she has published more than 60 peer-reviewed articles and has been cited more than 2,000 times by scholars across communication, psychology, sociology, and related social sciences.
Beyond academic audiences, Dr. LeFebvre regularly translates her research for the public. Her work has been featured in print, broadcast, and digital media outlets including Psychology Today, BBC platforms, and NPR, and she contributes to public-facing scholarly venues such as The Conversation and the Society for Personality and Social Psychology’s Character & Context blog. Through writing and invited talks, she brings empirical insight to widely experienced relational processes—such as relationship initiation, disengagement, and dissolution—helping audiences better understand how mediated communication shapes relational meaning and memory. Collectively, her work bridges theory and everyday life, offering insights into how relationships are initiated, remembered, and ended in digitally mediated contexts.
A Passion for Teaching and Connection
Dr. LeFebvre is committed to cultivating a sustainable community of learners through a rigorous, relationally grounded, and inclusive instructional environment. Her teaching is guided by three core commitments: building quality relationships, fostering critical thinking and questioning, and engaging students through community-driven learning. Across undergraduate and graduate courses, she designs learning experiences that encourage students to challenge assumptions, engage productively with difference, and apply communication theory to meaningful relational contexts.
Mentorship is central to Dr. LeFebvre’s teaching identity. She approaches advising and research supervision as extensions of instruction, supporting students as they develop scholarly voice, methodological skill, and professional confidence. This mentorship at UA is a sustained community of students working across coursework, research, and collaborative learning spaces, including a research lab that prepares them for intellectual and professional growth beyond the classroom.