Professor Siltanen served as Director of the Women's Studies Program, President of the Faculty Senate, Executive Director of the Southern States Communication Association, and Southern States Communication Association President. She's received USM's Excellence in Teaching Award, Excellence in University Service Award, and SSCA's Outstanding Gender Studies Scholar Award, and is a member of Phi Kappa Phi. Teaches courses on interpersonal communication and related topics. Recent classes have included deceptive communication, intercultural communication, nonverbal communication, and health communication. Periodically offers a course in London as part of USM's British Studies Program.
Current research focuses on health and physiological effects of communication.