Strategic Digital Communication Lab
We intend to understand how organizations communicate with their publics about social issues using emerging media and what are the outcomes of communication between an organization and its publics. The perspectives or theories applied, but not limited to, are 1) organization-public relationships, 2) crisis management, 3) organization sustainability communications, 4) global public relations, and 5) nonprofit organizations.
Lab Director
Eyun-Jung Ki, Ph.D., Professor

Email
ki[at]apr.ua.edu
Ph.D., University of Florida
M.A., University of Florida
ki[at]apr.ua.edu
Ph.D., University of Florida
M.A., University of Florida
Current Members
Tugce Ertem-Eray, Ph.D. (Assistant Professor at North Carolina State University)

PhD, University of Oregon (2022)
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Alabama
Ph.D., Istanbul University, Turkey
M.A., Istanbul University, Turkey
B.A., Yildiz Technical University, Turkey
Research Interests
Strategic Communication, Conflict Management, Diversity
Ziyuan (Jason) Zhou, Ph.D. (Assistant Professor at Bentley University)

PhD. University of Alabama (2019)
M.S., Boston University
B.B.A., Shanghai International Studies University
Research Interests
Crisis Communication and Management, Corporate Social Responsibility Communication,
Public Relations Measurement
M.S., Boston University
B.B.A., Shanghai International Studies University
Research Interests
Crisis Communication and Management, Corporate Social Responsibility Communication,
Public Relations Measurement
Jeyoung Oh, Ph.D. (Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan-Flint)

Ph.D., The University of Alabama (2020)
M.A., The University of Alabama
B.A., The University of Alabama
Research Interests
New Media in Public Relations, Organization Sustainability Communications, Nonprofit Public Relations
M.A., The University of Alabama
B.A., The University of Alabama
Research Interests
New Media in Public Relations, Organization Sustainability Communications, Nonprofit Public Relations
Jooyoung Jang, Ph.D. (Research Fellow)

Ph.D., University of California, Davis (2018)
M.A., University of Alabama
M.A., Yonsei University, Korea
B.A., Seoul Women’s University, Korea
Research Interests
Emotional Well-being and Digital Health, Online Supportive Communication, Intercultural Communication (Immigrant groups)
M.A., University of Alabama
M.A., Yonsei University, Korea
B.A., Seoul Women’s University, Korea
Research Interests
Emotional Well-being and Digital Health, Online Supportive Communication, Intercultural Communication (Immigrant groups)
Yuanwei Lyu (5th Year Doctoral Student, Visiting Assistant Professor at Towson University)

M.A., Ball State University
Expected Graduation
May 2023
Research Interests
Digital Media in Public Relations, Crisis Management
Expected Graduation
May 2023
Research Interests
Digital Media in Public Relations, Crisis Management
Dayoung Kang (4th Year Doctoral Student)

Ph.D., University of Alabama (expected 2024)
M.A., Ewha Womans University
B.A., Ewha Womans University
Research Interests
-Factors affecting the organization-public relationship
M.A., Ewha Womans University
B.A., Ewha Womans University
Research Interests
-Factors affecting the organization-public relationship
- -the roles of organizational diversity in relationship building
- -the strategies to build an organization-public relationship in Web 3.0
- -Developing public relations strategies for public health organizations and ways to boost mental health among young adults.
Miaohong Huang (3rd Year Doctoral Student)

Ph.D., University of Alabama (expected 2025)
M.A., Xiamen University
B.A., Xiamen University
Research Interests
- AI in strategic communication,
- Health communication
- Crisis management
Former Members
Sumin Shin, Ph.D. (Assistant Professor at Oklahoma State University)

Ph.D., University of Alabama (Dec. 2017)
M.A., University of Tennessee
B.A., Yonsei University, Korea
Research Interests
Organization Sustainability Communications, Online Communication, Cross-cultural Research
M.A., University of Tennessee
B.A., Yonsei University, Korea
Research Interests
Organization Sustainability Communications, Online Communication, Cross-cultural Research