Hi! I am an Assistant Professor of Communication at the University of Massachusetts Boston. My research focuses on the processes and effects of mediated communication and new media technologies in addressing public health/risk challenges and promoting health equity. I use quantitative methods while connecting the understanding of social/interpersonal influence in decision-making, strategic message design and dissemination, technological affordances, and healthcare disparities in underserved populations. My recent project develops anti-stigma messages to increase mental health literacy of marginalized communities and explores using communication networks to evaluate the effectiveness of social media health campaigns.
My work has won several Top Paper awards at national and international communication conferences, which has appeared in journals such as Health Psychology, New Media & Society, and Health Communication. Prior to joining UMass Boston, I earned my Ph.D. in Communication from the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at University of Southern California.
For the full list of publications & conference presentations, please see the CV. If you are interested in working with me or have any questions, feel free to email me!