Current Doctoral Students
Michael Bowen
he/him/his
mtbowen@kent.edu
Primary Field of Study Area: Media, Technology and Society
My research focuses on how people experience and reflect on time, one of our most valued resources, and how it is spent with media and technology. Specifically, I am exploring the ways in which we can discern and understand time well spent within the 'attention economy', as opposed to time that may be squandered and later regretted.
My advisor is Dr. Michael Beam. I also continue to work full time for Spotify as a Principal Quantitative User Researcher.
L.P. Coladangelo
he/him/his
lcoladan@kent.edu
Primary Field of Study Area: Knowledge Organization
I am studying domain modeling and knowledge organization systems for intangible cultural heritage, information representation of folk traditions, and how semantic technologies can support cultural heritage safeguarding and transmission. Overall, I am interested in the relationships between language, meaning, storytelling, representation of ideas, and knowledge building.
My advisor is Dr. Marcia Lei Zeng.
LuÃsa Almeida de Paula
she/her/hers
tdzineku@kent.edu
Primary Field of Study: Communication and Identity
My research aims to examine WAGs (wives and girlfriends of sportsmen) in relation to the spectacularization of sports and mediatization. I am particularly interested in understanding WAGs as the new face and agents of spectacularized sport and how the media portrays them, but also how WAGS uses the media. Additionally, I am interested in studying identities, organizational communication, globalization and glocalization, as well as the socio-political-cultural dynamics of football (soccer). I am also a member of a research group in Brazil, Coletivo Marta – Research Group in Communication and Sports Culture (UFMG).
Theorose Elikplim Dzineku
she/her/hers
tdzineku@kent.edu
Primary Field of Study: Emerging Media, Technology, and Journalism
I am working at the intersection of Technology, New Media platforms, Journalism, and Journalism Education. My research explores how journalism education institutions in Africa are using social media platforms like Clubhouse, Twitter Space, and TikTok for example in educating and training students. I am also enthused and interested in learning about how new generative AI can be applied in local newsrooms for news production. I have an interest in research work that explores AI and social media effects, local journalism, and Journalism education.
I am a research assistant to Dr. David Silva and Dr. Andrea Lorenz.
Harrison LeJeune
he/him/his
hlejeune@kent.edu
Primary Field of Study Area: Media, Technology, and Society
I am studying mass media and political communication, specifically how mass media is used to manufacture public consent for policy.
I am working as a research assistant for Dr. Teddy Workneh, Dr. Paul Haridakis, and Dr. Danielle Coombs.
Yanni Liu
she/her/hers
yliu112@kent.edu
Primary Field of Study Area: Emerging Media, Technology and Society
My research focuses on human-technology interaction, media psychology and computer-mediated communication, particularly how emerging technologies like online programs, social robots and virtual reality influence behavior. My goal? To find the "like" button for real-life interactions and design tech that enhances well-being, learning and equity in societal contexts. So far, I'm just "following" the clues – but if you've got any 'shares' of wisdom, hit me up!
Shiza Nisar
she/her
1shiza1@gmail.com
Primary Field of Study Area: Media Representation, Society and Feminist Movements
My research interests include gender, framing theory and social minorities, with a particular focus on the global media coverage of the global South.
My passion for media and its role in shaping society motivates my commitment to both teaching and research. I strongly believe that in today's world a deep understanding of media is crucial.
Samuel Noi
he/him
snoi@kent.edu
Primary Field of Study Area: Health, Technology, and Society
I study health communication and its emerging technology in dealing with some of the health and health communication challenges. My research focus is about examining digital health communication technologies or applications in tackling some of the health issues that have bedeviled society. This is to mitigate the effect of damages borne out of delays in the use of communication technology in the healthcare sector.
I am working with Dr. Tang Tang and Dr. Egbert-Scheibelhoffer Nichole.
Personal Website:
Guilherme Pedrosa Quintela
Primary Field of Study Area: Interpersonal Communication
I study the relationship between organizations, sports and transmedia communication. My research focuses on understanding new trends in sports organizations' communication and how it affects the manner these organizations interact with society in many ways, such as economically, technologically, culturally and communicatively. I am also studying fandom, sports political economy, media and sports cultures, media practices of fans, protests and activism in the sports field, gender and sports and sports journalism. I also participate in two research groups in Brazil: Coletivo Marta - Research Group in Communication and Sports Culture (UFMG) and Dialorg (PUC Minas).
I am currently working with Dr. Tang Tang and Dr. Danielle Sarver Coombs.
Madison VanWalleghen
she/her
mvanwall@kent.edu
Primary Field of Study Area: Communication and Identity
My research examines how we develop and communicate about our identities, both as individuals and part of a group, based on identity discourse in various forms of media. Specifically, I aim to serve underrepresented communities at the intersection of sports, race, and gender, and share their stories of self.
My advisor is Dr. Cheryl Ann Lambert.
Monique Wingard
she/her/hers
mwingar2@ kent.edu
Primary Field of Study Area: Media, Technology and Society
I am a member of the Coalition for Independent Tech Research and will be studying how social media propagates hate speech and impacts intergroup relations. My research will also focus on automated journalism and the effects of AI authorship.
My advisor is Dr. Tara Conley.
Chengyuan Yu
he/him/his
cyu15@kent.edu
Primary Field of Study Area: Human Information Behavior
With degrees in Applied Linguistics and Library and Information Studies, I am studying the relationship between language and human information behavior from both cognitive and social perspectives. Specifically, I seek to understand the nature of multilingual speakers' information literacy practice and cross-lingual information retrieval, with the aim of helping them seek, organize, and process information in academic and non-academic settings.
Elaine Yuen
she/her/hers
yyuen@kent.edu
Primary Field of Study Area: Cultural Heritage Informatics
I am studying cultural heritage informatics, especially in setting up and telling stories of artifacts. My research focuses on connecting and applying innovative design to preserve cross-culture in the east and west with my fashion and costume design background.
I am working as a research assistant for Dr. Karen Gracy.