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
Mengyan is both a quantitative and qualitative researcher. Her research interests include (1) the impact of emerging technologies, (2) family communication, resilience, and flourishing, (3) the impact of memorable messages on psychological and physical health, and (4) health message design. In collaboration with the Media and Advertising Psychology (MAP) Lab, she has explored the psychological effects and processes associated with social media use. Additionally, through her work with the Family Communication and Relationships (FCR) Lab, she conducts research on family communication, focusing on family disruptions and the processes that positively impact family dynamics. Mengyan's research has been published in peer-reviewed journals such as Social Media + Society, Health Communication, Western Communication Journal, and the Journal of IEEE Transactions on Mobile Computing. Her co-authored paper, “A Tale of Four Platforms: Motivations and Uses of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat among College Students,” has garnered over 1,300 citations. Additionally, Mengyan holds a strong interest in user experience (UX) research and has earned a Google UX Design certificate, completing seven courses and two large projects within six months.

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

Thesis and Dissertation Award Committee in the Human Communication and Technology Division of 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
  • Impact of Memorable Messages on Psychological and Physical Health
  • Health Message Design
  • Healthy Behavior Promotion

TEACHING COURSES

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

STRENGTHS

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

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. (R&R). Different by definition: First-generation college graduates’ perceptions of family marginalization, resilience, and flourishing. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships.

Wolfe, B. H., Ma, M., Kuch, R., Zhang, Y., Cui, X., Edwards, E. L., Dorrance Hall, E. (R&R). 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. (under review) “Linking Slovene Women’s Family-of-Origin Communication with Perceptions of Resilience, Support Availability and Happiness in Adulthood” was submitted to th 75th Annual International Communication Association 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