Muthuswamy’s interests focus on communications that transcend cultural and national boundaries, designing effective health messages for diverse populations, and research methods. Muthuswamy received her master’s and PhD in communication from Michigan State University. Her master’s thesis investigated the communicative effects of the adoption of an innovative race relations program on the campus of Michigan State University. Her dissertation critically examined the use of fear appeals as a strategy in promoting condom usage towards preventing HIV/AIDS in Namibia, Africa. 

Prior to USC, Muthuswamy worked as an assistant professor in the Department of Communication at George Mason University, Fairfax, VA. There, she taught courses on health communication campaigns, cross-cultural communication, and research methods. Muthuswamy has published articles in leading communication journals and has received awards for her work at national conferences. Currently, she is working on a paper that highlights and addresses key conceptual and methodological barriers in the study of self across cultures. She has also worked for Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Communication Programs (CCP) and served as a consultant for USAID. Muthuswamy has work and research experience in Asia, Africa, and North America.