Mengyan Ma Ph.D.

Mengyan Ma Ph.D.

Assistant Professor | Professor of Practice

Department
  • Advertising + Public Relations
mamengya@msu.edu

Bio

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Dr. Mengyan Ma is an Assistant Professor (Professor of Practice) in the Department of Advertising and Public Relations. Before rejoining Michigan State University (MSU), she served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication and Journalism at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (UWEC). Since 2015, Mengyan has taught undergraduate courses across various formats, including in-person, synchronous, and asynchronous modalities. Her previous courses include Social Media and Communication, Advertising Message Strategy, Research Methods, Writing for Integrated Strategic Communication, Media Law and Ethics, Media Planning, Digital Analytics, and Account Planning and Research. Mengyan also directs an Education Abroad Program titled "International Advertising in China," offering students the opportunity to blend academic learning with practical experience in one of the world’s most dynamic markets.

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Her research explores the effects of emerging technology, advertising, and family communication, strongly emphasizing community engagement and social impact. She contributes to academic scholarship and practical applications by using both quantitative and qualitative methods, advancing media literacy and health communication. Her work has been published in peer-reviewed journals such as Journal of Family Communication, Journal of Advertising Education, Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, Health Communication, International Journal of Communication, and Social Media + Society. Notably, her co-authored paper, “A Tale of Four Platforms: Motivations and Uses of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat among College Students,” has garnered over 1,500 citations, reflecting its significant impact in the field. Her paper abstract was recently recognized as a Top Paper Abstract at the 2025 Midwinter AEJMC Conference in Oklahoma.

INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE
Mengyan has worked as the Marketing Manager for A Plus International Culture Communication Inc., where she was responsible for managing partnerships with local organizations and developing international cultural exchange programs and teacher training initiatives. Her industry experience includes roles as a writing counselor, marketing analyst, and advertising designer across various organizations. Prior to her career in the U.S., she interned as a journalist and program designer at Beijing Media Network for several years.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Mengyan earned her Ph.D. in Media and Information Studies, along with a Graduate Certificate in Community Engagement, from MSU in 2021. She also holds a master’s degree in Advertising with an Advertising Ethics Certification, which she completed at MSU in 2015. She received her bachelor's degree in Finance from Wuhan University, China, in 2013.

A dedicated researcher and educator, Mengyan is passionate about bridging the gap between academic knowledge and practical application. Visit www.mengyanma.com to learn more about her work.

Roles

  • Collaborator of Family Communication and Relationship (FCR) Lab
  • Affiliate Faculty of Health and Risk Communication Center (HRCC)
  • MSU Excellence-in-Teaching Citation Committee
  • MSU ADPR Department Research Resources Committee
  • MSU ADPR Department Scholarships Committee
  • Thesis and Dissertation Award Committee in the Human Communication and Technology Division of the National Communication Association (NCA)
  • Program Director of Education Abroad Program "International Advertising in China".

 

Research and Teaching

RESEARCH INTERESTS

  • Emerging Technologies
  • Family Communication, Resilience, and Flourishing
  • College Students' Health
  • Impact of Memorable Messages on Psychological and Physical Health
  • Health Message Design
  • Healthy Behavior Promotion
  • Community-Engaged Research

TEACHING COURSES

  • ADV205 Principles of Advertising
  • ADV225 Basic Skills for Advertising Careers
  • ADV330 Advertising Management Strategy
  • ADV375 Consumer Behavior

STRENGTHS

  • Global Cultural, Academic, and Professional Learning Facilitation
  • Quantitative and Qualitative Research
  • Large Class Teaching
  • Internship and Job Advising

Related Work

MSU School of Journalism professor Bruno Takahashi, left, presented at the ICA conference.
MSU School of Journalism Professors Recognized at 2018 ICA
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Graphic for MSU at ICA 2019
Research in the Nation’s Capital: Professors Make Appearance at 69th Annual ICA Conference
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MSU at ICA 2023 with the ComArtSci square graphic in the bottom right corner
MSU at ICA 2023
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National Communication Association logo | 109th annual convention: Freedom | November 16-19, 2023 | National Harbor, MD
NCA 109th Annual Convention
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RECENT PUBLICATIONS

Dorrance-Hall, E., Zhang, Y., Wolfe, B., Ma, M., Li, W., Kuch, L., Cui, X., Edwards, A.L. (in press). Different by definition: First generation college graduates’ perceptions of family marginalization, resilience, and flourishing. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships.

Ma, M. (in press) Enhancing Student Engagement and Learning Outcomes through Strategic Use of Guest Speakers in Advertising Education. Journal of Advertising Education.

Wolfe, B. H., Ma, M., Kuch, R., Zhang, Y., Cui, X., Edwards, E. L., Watson, O, &Dorrance Hall, E. (2025). A mixed-methods analysis of memorable messages received by first-generation college students from parents at graduation. Journal of Family Communication.

Hall, E., Earle, K., Ma, M., Kuch, L., Zhang, Y., & Osika, K. (2024). Women’s Work-Family Balance in Slovenia: Associations with Job Stress, Division of Labor Satisfaction, and Relational Wellbeing. International Journal of Communication.

Hall, E., Campbell, N., Carlisle, M., Lance, E., Ma, M., Scharp, K.M. (2022). Development and validation of a family member marginalization measure (FM3): Difference, disapproval, and exclusion dimensions. Western Communication Journal. 

Cash, S. B., Alhabash, S., Fretes, G., & Ma, M. (2022). Food, beverages and social media: trends and tools for economic research. In A Modern Guide to Food Economics. Edward Elgar Publishing.

Hall, E., Ma, M., Azimova, D., Campbell, N., Ellithorpe, M., Plasencia, J., Chavez, M., Zekdes, G., Takahashi, B., Bleakley, A., & Hennessy, M. (2021). The mediating role of family and cultural food beliefs on the relationship between family communication patterns and diet and health issues across racial/ethnic groups. Health Communication, 36(5), 593-605.

RECENT CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

Dorrance Hall, E., Watson, O., Yue, Z., Kuhar, M., and Ma, M. (2025) Linking Slovene Women’s Family-of-Origin Communication with Perceptions of Resilience, Support Availability and Happiness in Adulthood. Paper is accepted to present at the 75th Annual International Communication Association Conference.

Ma, M. & Alhabash, S. (2025) Leveraging Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Succession and Media Richness Theories to Promote Healthy Eating Behaviors on Social Media. Abstract is accepted to present at the Communication Technology Division of 2025 Regional Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) Conference.

Wolfe, B. H., Ma, M., Kuch, R., Zhang, Y., Cui, X., Edwards, E. L., Dorrance Hall, E. (2024) A mixed-methods analysis of memorable messages received by first-generation college students from family members at graduation. Paper presented to the Family Communication Division of the annual meeting of the National Communication Association (NCA), New Orleans, LA, United States.

Dorrance-Hall, E., Zhang, Y., Wolfe, B., Li, W., Kuch, L., Ma, M., Cui, X., Edwards, A.L. (2024). Different by definition: First generation college graduates’ perceptions of family marginalization, resilience, and flourishing. Paper presented to the Family Communication Division of the annual meeting of the National Communication Association (NCA), New Orleans, LA, United States.

Edwards, A., Hall, E., Wolfe, B., Kuch, L., Ma, M., Zhang, Y., & Xiao, C. (2024) “My mother was far more involved”: A mixed-methods examination of parental communication about career choices. Abstract presented to the International Association for Relationship Research (IARR), Boston, MA, United States.

Wang, T., Hall, E., Spates, S., Ma, M., Wolfe, B., Edwards, A., & Zhang, Y. (2024). Navigating Incoherent Systems: Dyadic, Family, and Community Communication Opportunities and Challenges of First-Generation College Students During and Beyond Higher Education. Paper presented to the Central States Communication Association Conference, Grand Rapids, MI, United States.

Hall, E., Ma, M., Yue, Z., Kuch, L., & Earle, K. (2023). The role of family communication and social support availability in Slovene adults’ romantic relationship satisfaction. Paper presented to the Family Communication Division of the annual meeting of the National Communication Association (NCA), National Harbor, MD, United States.

Alhabash, S., Dong, C., Subhalakshmi, B., & Ma, M. (2023). What if Others Seet it? Investigating Effects of eWOM Privacy, Social Tie Strength, and Product Category Stigmatization on Persuasiveness of eWOM messages on Instagram. Abstract presented to the annual meeting of the International Communication Association Conference, Toronto, Canada.

Hall, E., Earle, K., Ma, M., Osika, K., & Kuch, L. (2023). Work-Family Balance in Slovenia: Associations with Job Stress, Division of Labor Satisfaction, and Relational Wellbeing. Paper presented to the Family Communication Division of the annual meeting of the International Communication Association Conference, Toronto, Canada.

Contact Information

404 Wilson Rd., Room 362
Communication Arts and Sciences Building
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824

Personal Website

LinkedIn Account