Andrew received his B.Sc. in Communication Arts and Science and Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2021. He then graduated with his M.A. in Communication from Michigan State University in 2024. His work is concerned with the impact of new media technologies—including social networking sites, video games, and AI—on interpersonal communication processes and psychological well-being. More specifically, his research focuses on how new communication technologies reshape interpersonal communication processes, such as conflict episodes, social support, relational maintenance, and termination. He is also interested in how various types of online communication behaviors—such as self-presentation, commenting, liking, and types of interaction afforded by new media technologies—impact one's psychological well-being.

Ying Qi Pan is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Communication at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her research focuses on political communication, technology, and digital inequalities. Her work explores (1) how artificial intelligence shapes human–technology relations through intergroup (especially gender), social identity, and self-effects perspectives; and (2) how individual and contextual factors influence online political participation using cross-national datasets. Her methodological training is primarily quantitative.

Yuxin Jin is a M.A/Ph.D. student in the Department of Communication at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Yuxin received a BA in Communication from UCSB and has since gained experience as a research assistant for the Santa Barbara Women’s Fund and as an intern at the Santa Barbara Courthouse. Yuxin’s research explores gender inequality and women’s empowerment, particularly through microfinance and employment, examining how financial inclusion contributes to women’s advancement. Yuxin is also interested in globalization, conducting cross-cultural comparisons between East Asia and the U.S. to investigate how cultural nuances shape responses to global trends. Additionally, Yuxin's work examines the social impact of legislation, with a particular focus on how laws influence societal norms, gender dynamics, and empowerment initiatives, as well as the effects of emerging communication technologies like AI on legal regulation.

Jessica is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Communication at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her primary interests include (1) uncovering the underlying mechanisms of health and social decision-making, (2) examining how social influences interact with communication processes to shape behavior, and (3) exploring diverse factors at various levels to promote health and well-being. Her work employs a diverse research toolkit that includes both quantitative methods (e.g., neuroscientific and computational methods) and qualitative methods (e.g., semi-structured interviews). Taking an interdisciplinary approach, she seeks to better understand how people make decisions within our increasingly complex (or challenging) social and communication environments, and to inform more effective strategies for improving individual and collective well-being.

Stephanie Herrera is a graduate student researcher in the Department of Communication at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her research examines how mainstream news impacts intergroup relations in the United States, particularly regarding immigration attitudes. Her work incorporates a multi-method approach to explore our changing traditional and social media environments. Guided by social psychological theories, her research highlights the importance of identity-based research in political communication. Stephanie earned her B.A. in Communication at The Ohio State University, where she specialized in Communication Technology.

Monét Tchamdjoci is a doctoral student in the Department of Communication at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her research interests lie in family, health, and interpersonal communication, with a focus on how Black women talk about and make sense of their bodies within sociocultural contexts.

Alison’s research interests are driven by the goal of better understanding how people perceive, interpret, and form beliefs about themselves, others, and their environment, and how media can affect these processes. Alison aims to make media neuroscience inclusive and accessible to media users and audiences of various backgrounds, such as adolescents and individuals with mental illnesses. She uses behavioral, psychophysiological, and computational methods to study moral cognition, media processing and effects, mental health and wellbeing, and human-technology interactions.

Alison's background in neuroscience and philosophy and her research at the Chapman University Brain Institute have contributed to her interdisciplinary approach to communication research. Alison studied neuroscience, philosophy, and theology at the University of San Diego and more recently received her M.S. in Health and Strategic Communication from Chapman University.