These are the units for news, profiles, and roles (not bios.)
August 26, 2025 The Institute of Communications Research is excited to announce their newest cohort! Please learn more about the students’ research interests below and join us in welcoming them to the University of Illinois College of Media community this fall. For more information, see full student profiles. Thomas Farrenkopf earned his master’s degree in cinema and media […]
Email: sk217@illinois.edu Research Interests Seo-Young (Selene) Kim is a doctoral student at the Institute of Communications Research (ICR). Her research interests lie at the intersection of consumer behavior and human–AI interaction. She examines how people interact with AI and how it shapes their decision-making, particularly in the music entertainment industry. Prior to joining ICR, Selene […]
Email: ketank2@illinois.edu Research Interests I am interested in the tools and techniques that have been used to manipulate images throughout history. My research investigates the technical and discursive formations that constitute film restoration. I hope to gain a deeper understanding of how the manipulation of images is framed through the intersecting histories of image generation, […]
Email: aimank@illinois.edu Research Interests Aiman’s research focuses on advertising, consumer behavior, neuromarketing, and biometrics. She applies methods such as eye-tracking, facial recognition, and GSR to study how consumers process advertising messages and make decisions. Recent Publications and Presentations Academic Roles Aiman previously served as Dean of the School of Management at Almaty Management University (AlmaU). […]
Email: xiaohua8@illinois.edu Research Interests My primary research interests lie in persuasion and information behaviors, with a particular focus on how consumers process and respond to health-related advertising crafted with persuasive strategies. Before joining ICR, I earned my MSc in Communication Science from the University of Amsterdam, where I focused on persuasive communication, and received my […]
Email: thomasf9@illinois.edu Research Interests Recent Publications/Presentations Academic Roles Thomas is a Graduate Teaching Assistant and Graduate Student Representative for the Society of Cinema and Media Studies. He previously served as a TA for “Billy Wilder’s Hollywood,” and was a Discussion Leader for “Introduction to Cinema” and “Introduction to Television.” Awards and Honors What Most People Don’t Know […]
August 20, 2025 | Holly Rushakoff To expand access to a University of Illinois education, the College of Media now offers an online Bachelor of Arts in Media program for adult learners who have taken some college coursework but have not completed their undergraduate degree. Targeting working adults who want to upskill or re-skill their […]
August 20, 2025 | Sharita Forrest, University of Illinois News Bureau Teachers and high school students live in vastly different media worlds, and that’s one of several digital divides that undermine the efficacy of state-mandated media literacy instruction in Illinois high schools, a recent study suggests. The researchers—Institute of Communications Research doctoral student Sakshi Bhalla and Michelle Nelson, […]
August 19, 2025 This fall, the College of Media announces two new department heads, seven faculty promotions, and one new faculty member. In the Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising, Sang-Hwa Oh has been promoted to associate professor with indefinite tenure. Carrie Wilson-Brown has been promoted to senior lecturer. Penne Heede joins the department as […]
August 19, 2025 Faculty and graduate students from the College of Media co-presented various topics of research at the 108th annual conference of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication on August 7-10, 2025, in San Francisco, California. This year’s conference theme was “Leading in Times of Momentous Change: Individual and Collective Opportunities.” Presenters […]