Assistant Professor
Department of Communication Arts
Catalina Toma has been an assistant professor at UW–Madison since 2010 after obtaining her PhD from Cornell University. Her research examines how people understand and relate to one another when interacting via communication technologies (online dating, social network sites, blogs, etc.). Dr. Toma focuses on the psychological impact of communication technologies on relational processes such as: impression management and impression formation, deception and trust, Interpersonal attraction and relationship development, self-worth, self-esteem and emotional well-being. She has also interested in how language is produced and interpreted in computer-mediated contexts. Recent projects have investigated self-presentation and deception in online dating profiles and the psychological benefits and costs of social network sites.