My Resume

PROFESSIONAL ​INFO​​

I started working in journalism and media when I was 15 years old. During high school, I heard about a youth newspaper emerging. I loved to write. Perfect fit. In a few years, I became the managing editor of the first youth newspaper in Palestine. My experience in the non-profit sector informs what I do as a scholar. I'm interested in transformative research that not only tells us about humans and the world, but also does something good. 

Academic Positions

Associate Professor

2018-Present​

Department of Advertising + Public Relations

Department of Media & Information

Michigan State University

2011-2018​

Assistant Professor of PR & Social Media

Department of Advertising + Public Relations

Department of Media & Information

Michigan State University

2014-Present​

Co-Director, Media and Advertising Psychology (MAP) Lab

I direct the Media and Advertising Psychology (MAP) Lab at Michigan State University. The MAP Lab encompasses a number of faculty and graduate student affiliates interested in the study of mediated communication using bio-psychological approaches (psychophysiology and eye-tracking).

• Cognitive Science Program

• Games for Entertainment and Learning (GEL) Lab (until 2014)

• Muslim Studies Program

• Health & Risk Communication Center

• Children's Central

2011-Present​

Core Faculty Member/Research Associate, Michigan State University

EDUCATION

2008 - 2011

Ph.D. in Journalism

University of Missouri, School of Journalism, Columbia, MO

• Focus: Strategic Communication & New Media

• Dissertation title: Playing their Game: Changing American Students’ Attitudes and Stereotypes toward Palestinians and Israelis through Video Game Play

• Committee: Dr. Kevin Wise (chair & advisor), Dr. Esther Thorson, Dr. Glenn Leshner, Dr. Margaret Duffy, Dr. Bruce Bartholow (Department of Psychology).

2006 - 2008

M.A. in Journalism (Strategic Communication), Fulbright Scholarship

University of Missouri, School of Journalism, Columbia, MO

• Focus: Strategic Communication

• Thesis title: Youth 2 youth: Effect of online social networking on images and stereotypes of Palestinian and American youth.

• Chair: Dr. Fritz Cropp.

B.A. in Journalism and Political Science

2000 - 2005

Department of Journalism, Faculty of Arts, Birzeit University, Palestine