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.

"Be the change you wish to see in the world"
- Mahatma Gandhi
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).
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Cognitive Science Program
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Games for Entertainment and Learning (GEL) Lab (until 2014)
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Muslim Studies Program
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Health & Risk Communication Center
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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
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Focus: Strategic Communication & New Media
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Dissertation title: Playing their Game: Changing American Students’ Attitudes and Stereotypes toward Palestinians and Israelis through Video Game Play
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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
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Focus: Strategic Communication
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Thesis title: Youth 2 youth: Effect of online social networking on images and stereotypes of Palestinian and American youth.
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Chair: Dr. Fritz Cropp.
B.A. in Journalism and Political Science
2000 - 2005
Department of Journalism, Faculty of Arts, Birzeit University, Palestine