Mengyan Ma Ph.D.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Dr. Mengyan Ma is an Assistant Professor (Professor of Practice) with an active research agenda in the Department of Advertising and Public Relations. She currently teaches courses in both the advertising and public relations majors. Before rejoining Michigan State University (MSU), she served as a tenure-track 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 and Public Relations 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 intersection of health communication, advertising, public relations, and emerging media, guided by a social ecological framework to examine how individuals process and respond to strategic messages, particularly in the contexts of social media, influencer marketing, artificial intelligence, and family dynamics. She investigates how communication strategies shape beliefs, build trust and credibility, and strengthen relationships across interpersonal, community, and societal levels. Grounded in theory-driven, mixed-methods, and community-engaged approaches, her work advances the development of ethical, culturally sensitive, and impactful family interventions and public relations practices that promote well-being, inform ethical organizational behavior, and support social responsibility in diverse communities. Her work has been published in International Journal of Communication, Social Media + Society, Health Communication, Journal of Advertising Education, Journal of Family Communication, and Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. 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 1,600 citations, reflecting its significant impact in the field. 

She received a Trifecta Grant (2025–2026) to support research on influencer marketing of THC-infused beverages, with the goal of informing media literacy campaigns, family education, public health initiatives, and regulatory discussions. Her paper abstract was recognized as a Top Paper Abstract at the 2025 Midwinter AEJMC Conference in Oklahoma. She reviewed journal manuscripts include: Social Media + Society, New Media + Society, Mass Communication and Society, Journal of American College Health, Journal of Marketing Communications, and Journal of Advertising Education. She is deeply committed to community-engaged research, teaching, and service. During her doctoral program, she earned a graduate certificate in Community Engagement. More recently, she was awarded a college fellowship and completed a faculty certificate in Community-Engaged Scholarship.

INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE
Mengyan currently serves as the International Coordinator for the publishing team at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC). She 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.

• International Coordinator of the Publishing Team at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC)
• Editorial Board of Global Perspectives in Communication
• 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 Co-Director of Education Abroad Program "International Advertising and Public Relations in China"
• Enrollment Officer for the Master’s Program in Health and Risk Communication
• Collaborator of Family Communication and Relationship (FCR) Lab
• Affiliate Faculty of Health and Risk Communication Center (HRCC)

RESEARCH INTERESTS

• Health Communication
• Family Communication
• Social Media and Influencer Marketing
• Artificial Intelligence
• Eating Behaviors
• Psychological Well-being
• Community-engaged Research

TEACHING COURSES

• ADV205 Principles of Advertising
• ADV225 Basic Skills for Advertising Careers
• ADV330 Advertising Management Strategy
• ADV375 Consumer Behavior
• PR325 Intermediate Social Media and Public Relations Techniques