Ki EchoSphere: Emerging Media & Social Innovation Lab
We leverage cutting-edge technologies such as the metaverse, artificial intelligence, and chatbots to tackle critical social challenges, including climate change and mental health. Our research explores how organizations use emerging media to communicate with their publics on pressing social issues and investigates the outcomes of these interactions. Through this work, we aim to advance both the understanding and practice of strategic digital communication in addressing today’s most urgent societal concerns.
Lab Director
Eyun-Jung Ki, Ph.D., Professor
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)
Dayoung Kang (Assistant Professor at State University of New York at Cortland)
Ph.D., University of Alabama (August, 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 (ABD, 4th Year Doctoral Student)
Ph.D., University of Alabama (expected 2025)
M.A., Xiamen University
B.A., Xiamen University
Research Interests
Trainees
M.A., Xiamen University
B.A., Xiamen University
Research Interests
- AI in strategic communication
- Health communication
- Crisis management
Trainees
- Jiali Zhang
- Darlington Nwachukwu
- Junyan Lu