Faculty | USC Annenberg

Faculty Directory

Associate Professor of Professional Practice

Shub A. has nearly two decades of experience in AI-driven product management and innovation, holding executive and leadership roles across various industries. In his teaching, he bridges academia and industry in product management and applied AI.

Amara

Aguilar

Professor of Professional Practice of Journalism

Amara Aguilar is a professor of journalism who centers her work around emerging technology, visual journalism, social media, design, Latinx audiences and engaging diverse communities.

Part-Time Lecturer

Professor of Communication

A leading scholar of transnationalism, Hector Amaya examines conceptual foundations of civic life such as citizenship, publicity and openness as these are transformed by globalization, violence and new technologies.

Marcela

Amiune

Part-Time Lecturer of Communication

Mike

Ananny

Associate Professor of Communication and Journalism

An interdisciplinary scholar working at the intersections of communication, journalism studies, media studies, and science and technology studies, Ananny traces how technologies and cultures of media production have the power to shape public life.

Jonathan

Aronson

Professor of Communication

Jonathan Aronson, professor of international communication and international relations, focuses on international policy and regulation issues.

Adjunct Instructor

Professor of Communication and Spatial Sciences

François Bar’s research and teaching explore the social and economic impacts of information technologies, with a specific focus on telecommunication policy, user-driven innovation and technology appropriation.

Daniela

Baroffio

Clinical Professor of Communication

Daniela Baroffio examines the potential for social change and advocacy in entertainment, media and marketing.

Adjunct Lecturer

Adjunct Instructor

Professor of Professional Practice of Journalism

Longtime political journalist Christina Bellantoni joined the journalism faculty to lead the student newsroom and offer any student who works with Annenberg Media the lessons she’s learned over her more than 20-year career.

Leslie

Berestein Rojas

Associate Professor of Professional Practice

Award-winning radio journalist Leslie Berestein Rojas directs audio instruction in the Annenberg Media Center, working with students hands-on as they learn the art of audio storytelling.

Clarissa

Beyah

Professor of Professional Practice of Journalism

Clarissa Beyah is a communications executive, educator and nonprofit founder with more than 25 years of global experience leading communication organizations at some of the world’s largest companies.

Daniel

Birman

Professor of Professional Practice of Journalism

Daniel H. Birman is an award-winning writer, director and producer of documentaries who has developed documentary as an active journalistic practice at USC Annenberg.

Adjunct Instructor

Part-Time Lecturer of Communication

Adjunct Lecturer

Associate Professor of Professional Practice of Journalism

A longtime journalist and web developer, Peggy Bustamante teaches creative professionals to code, empowering them to push the boundaries of innovative storytelling in the digital sphere.

Rook

Campbell

Clinical Assistant Professor of Communication

Rook Campbell teaches across areas of advertising, sport, globalization and media within the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.

Adjunct Instructor

Professor of Professional Practice of Journalism

Throughout her distinguished career as a journalist, educator and scholar, Laura Castañeda has centered her writing, teaching and research on issues of diversity — particularly the Latino experience — and the pedagogy of journalism.

Manuel

Castells

University Professor; Wallis Annenberg Chair in Communication Technology and Society; Professor of Communication, Sociology, Planning, and International Relations

Manuel Castells is a leading scholar on globalization, network society, and internet studies.

Michael

John

Cody

Professor Emeritus of Communication

Michael Cody teaches and conducts research in the areas of interpersonal communication, nonverbal communication, persuasion, entertainment-education and public campaigns

Jeffrey

Cole

Professor Emeritus of Communication Research

Jeffrey Cole has been at the forefront of media and communication technology issues both in the United States and internationally for the past three decades.

Cole

Professor Emerita of Journalism

Recognized as a USC Remarkable Woman Faculty Member, KC Cole is an award-winning science writer who explores the intersection of science, the arts and politics and hosts the public event series, Categorically Not!

Fred

Cook

Professor of Professional Practice of Journalism

As chairman of global PR agency Golin, Fred has 30+ years experience with world-class brands like Amazon, Nintendo and McDonald’s and is the author of ‘Improvise: Unorthodox Career Advice from an Unlikely CEO.’

Geoffrey

Cowan

University Professor of Communication; Annenberg Family Chair in Communication Leadership

Geoffrey Cowan is a lawyer, academic administrator, government official, best-selling author, distinguished professor, nonprofit executive, and Emmy Award-winning producer.

David

Craig

Associate Professor of Communication

David Craig researches, writes, and teaches courses about cultural, creative, and media industries and management, from global media to Hollywood to social media entertainment and China’s wanghong industries.

Kate

Crawford

Research Professor of Communication

Kate Crawford is a leading scholar of the social implications of artificial intelligence, and her work focuses on understanding technology in the wider contexts of history, politics, labor and the environment.

Kiran

Dhillon

Clinical Assistant Professor of Communication

Dhillon studies a broad range of topics generally concerned with argumentation, political communication, cultural discourses, gendered discourses and racial discourses.

Clayton

Dube

Former Director, USC U.S.-China Institute

Christina

Dunbar-Hester

Professor of Communication

Christina Dunbar-Hester is a leading scholar in the area of democratic control of technologies, including power, participation, and political exclusion.

Daniel

Durbin

Clinical Professor of Communication

Founder and director of the USC Annenberg Institute of Sports, Media and Society and creator of the African-American Experience in Major League Baseball research program, Daniel Durbin examines the meaning of sport as a rhetorical process.

Adjunct Lecturer

Professor of Computer Science and Communication

A pioneer working at the intersection between artificial intelligence and computational social science, Emilio Ferrara studies socio-technical systems and information networks to unveil the communication dynamics that govern our world.

Jennifer

Floto

Professor of Professional Practice of Journalism

A veteran public relations practitioner with 48 years of corporate and agency experience, Jennifer Floto is an expert on content creation, applied research, lifestyle PR, leadership fundamentals, creativity and PR planning.

Adjunct Lecturer

Part-Time Lecturer of Communication

Adjunct Instructor

Associate Professor of Communication

Robeson Taj Frazier explores Black and Afro-diasporic political cultures, popular cultures and intellectual histories, with an emphasis on cross-cultural contact, media and art.

Janet

Fulk

Professor Emerita of Communication, and Professor Emerita of Management and Organization

An award-winning interdisciplinary scholar and fellow of both communication and management, Janet Fulk studies how knowledge and expertise move through networks of people, technologies and organizations.

Adjunct Instructor

Professor of Professional Practice of Journalism

A longtime editor, producer and writer, Oscar Garza has spent most of his career working in cultural journalism, with experience in TV, print, radio and digital media.

Susan

Gavigan

Adjunct Instructor

G. Thomas

Goodnight

Professor of Communication

Throughout his career in academia, Goodnight has developed doctoral programs that achieve number one rankings, and works with a range of post-doctoral students and conducts advanced studies.

Larry

Gross

Professor Emeritus of Communication

A specialist in the areas of media and culture, art and communication, visual communication and media portrayals of minorities, Gross helped found the field of LGBT studies.

Adjunct Instructor

Adjunct Lecturer of Communication

Robert

Hernandez

Professor of Professional Practice of Journalism

Robert Hernandez, aka WebJournalist, is a hackademic that specializes in “MacGyvering” journalism through emerging technologies. His recent award-winning work includes AR/VR, wearables, drone — produced with his JOVRNALISM students.

Paddy

Hirsch

Adjunct Instructor

Adjunct Lecturer

Professor of Communication

Tom Hollihan publishes in the areas of argumentation, media and politics, media diplomacy, political campaign communication, contemporary rhetorical criticism, and the impact of globalization on public deliberation.

Adjunct Lecturer

Associate Professor of Professional Practice of Communication

Joseph Itaya is an award-winning multimedia director, educator, and entrepreneur, specializing in helping individuals and organizations discover and activate their purpose.

Adjunct Instructor

Adjunct Instructor

Adjunct Instructor

Provost Professor of Communication, Journalism, Cinematic Arts and Education

The author or editor of 20 books on media and popular culture, Henry Jenkins has spent his career exploring the intersections between participatory culture, participatory learning and participatory politics.

Perry

Johnson

Part Time Lecturer of Communications

Adjunct Instructor

Professor of Professional Practice of Journalism

Gabriel Kahn studies the disruption and evolution of the news industry and works on data-driven projects that promote innovation in the profession of journalism.

Martin

Kaplan

Research Professor of Communication and Journalism; Norman Lear Chair in Entertainment, Media and Society

His wide-ranging experience in politics, journalism, entertainment and academia led Marty Kaplan to found the USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center, which has been studying and shaping the difference media makes for more than 20 years.

Colleen

Keough

Clinical Professor of Communication

Colleen M. Keough, PhD is an award-winning researcher, teacher-scholar and advocate for academic-practitioner collaborations, as well as an active mentor for junior faculty and students.

Eunjin (Anna)

Kim

Associate Professor

A quantitative advertising scholar and digital media enthusiast, Anna Kim is a recipient of the Mary Alice Shaver Promising Professor Award and expert on storytelling advertising, brand communication, and quantitative research methods.

Julianna

Kirschner

Part-Time Lecturer of Communication

Marina

Kosten

Part-Time Lecturer of Communication

Misha

Kouzeh

Distinguished Lecturer of Communication

Robert

Kozinets

Professor of Journalism

The founder of netnography and a social media, influencer, and brand research pioneer, Kozinets develops theory and method to apply to marketing, communication, and other fields that seek a contextualized understanding of digital culture.

Josh

Kun

Professor and Chair in Cross-Cultural Communication

An award-winning cultural historian, critic and curator, Josh Kun is a 2016 MacArthur Fellow and expert on the intersection of arts, culture and politics, with an emphasis on popular music.

Randall

Lake

Associate Professor of Communication

Randall Lake is an expert in rhetoric, culture and public controversies, particularly the efforts of subaltern social movements for political, social and cultural change.

Caroline

Leach

Part-Time Lecturer of Communication

Ben

Lee

Clinical Professor of Communication

Rogelio Alejandro

Lopez

Adjunct Lecturer of Communication

Allan

Lopez

Adjunct Instructor

Adjunct Instructor

Research Professor of Communication

Colin Maclay’s research looks at the intersection of new technology and democratic and civic engagement.

Eric

Markgraf

Adjunct Lecturer of Communication

Cynthia

Martinez

Adjunct Lecturer of Communication

Margaret

McLaughlin

Professor Emerita of Communication

Margaret McLaughlin is a social scientist whose work focuses on health information seeking and sharing by underserved, marginalized and stigmatized populations.

Alan

Mittelstaedt

Associate Professor of Professional Practice of Journalism

A veteran of traditional and alternative media, Alan Mittelstaedt is a faculty advisor in the media center and teaches basic and advanced journalism courses that seek to address the unprecedented challenges facing our democracy.

Sheila

Teresa

Murphy

Professor of Communication

Sheila Murphy is an expert on the use of stories or narratives to change individual and health-related normative beliefs and behavior on topics ranging from human trafficking, condom use, stereotyping, and cancer screening, both in the U.S. and globally.

Nithya

Muthuswamy

Clinical Assistant Professor of Communication

Muthuswamy is a clinical assistant professor, teaching research methods, persuasion, and marketing class in the online communication management program.

Freddy

Tran

Nager

Clinical Associate Professor of Communication

Freddy Tran Nager is a creative strategist specializing in influencer marketing, digital media, branding, e-commerce, and entrepreneurial communication, with three decades of industry and academic experience.

Jessica

Neff

Clinical Associate Professor of Communication

Jessica Neff is a clinical associate professor of communication and co-director of the MS in Communication Data Science program.

A. Michael

Noll

Professor Emeritus of Communication

A. Michael Noll served as dean of USC Annenberg from 1992 to 1994 and was a very early pioneer in digital computer art, 3D animation and tactile communication.

Karen

North

Clinical Professor of Communication

Karen North is a recognized expert in the field of digital and social media, with interests spanning personal and corporate brand building, digital election meddling, reputation management, product development, and safety and privacy online.

Adjunct Lecturer

Clinical Associate Professor of Communication

Courtney Pade teaches in the Master of Communication Management program, specializing in research methods and marketing.

Adjunct Instructor

Part-Time Lecturer of Communication

Lisa

Pecot-Hébert

Professor of Professional Practice of Journalism

A critical-cultural trained scholar, Lisa Pecot-Hébert is an experienced academic administrator with teaching interests in multimedia journalism, gender and body image and broadcast production.

Jennifer

Petersen

Associate Professor of Communication

Adjunct Instructor

Associate Professor of Professional Practice of Journalism

A veteran of alternative media, Keith Plocek teaches a variety of journalism classes and researches the intersection of travel, culture and surfing.

Adjunct Instructor

Associate Professor of Journalism and Communication

Allissa V. Richardson, PhD, is an award-winning journalism instructor and scholar who studies how marginalized communities use mobile and social media to produce innovative forms of journalism — especially in times of crisis.

Austin

Roy

Adjunct Lecturer of Communications

Joe

Saltzman

Professor of Journalism and Communication

Joe Saltzman, an award-winning journalist, is a leading expert on the image of the journalist in popular culture. His IJPC Database and website are the definitive world-wide resources.

Adjunct Lecturer

Professor of Professional Practice of Journalism

As a newsroom manager, professor and mentor, Stacy Scholder provides hands-on teaching through video production and reporting of news and sports, with an emphasis on day-of-air, live, and breaking stories.

J.D.

Schramm

Lecturer of Communication

Philip

Seib

Professor Emeritus of Journalism and Public Diplomacy

Philip Seib is a leading authority about the relationship between news media and foreign policy, and about the effects of news coverage on armed conflict, including terrorism.

Adjunct Lecturer

Associate Research Professor of Communication

Sangita Shresthova focuses on civic imagination, popular culture, cross-cultural communication, and global media industries, with key work in civic engagement and democracy through her leadership of the Civic Paths and Transcultural Fandom Groups.

Paolo

Sigismondi

Clinical Professor of Communication

An interdisciplinary scholar with a background as an international executive, Paolo Sigismondi explores the evolution of the media industry as an author, editor, translator and educator.

Adjunct Lecturer

Associate Professor of Communication

Founder of the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, Stacy Smith started and runs the leading global think tank investigating inequality in Hollywood and creating solutions for systemic change.

Adjunct Instructor

Clinical Professor of Communication and Journalism

Trained as a rhetorical and argumentation scholar, Gordon Stables is an experienced academic administrator with ongoing research and teaching interests at the intersection of of journalism, political communication, public discourse and debate.

Adjunct Instructor

Professor of Journalism and Public Policy

Roberto A. Suro is a long-time journalist—TIME, New York Times, Washington Post — and think tank director — Pew Research Center, on USC faculty since 2007, and a specialist on immigration and the Latino population. Suro holds a joint appointment with the Price School of Public Policy.

Burghardt

Tenderich

Professor of Professional Practice

At the intersection of practice and academia, Burghardt Tenderich analyzes the disruptions in today’s media environments and the impact these profound changes have on the study and practice of organizational communication.

Douglas

Thomas

Associate Professor of Communication

Douglas Thomas works at the intersection of technology and culture, focusing on subcultures, education and learning, and innovation and creativity.

Adjunct Instructor

Clinical Professor of Communication

Founder and Director of Critical Media Project, Alison Trope centers her work and teaching on popular media and culture industries with a specific interest in diverse voices and social change.

Miki

Turner

Professor of Professional Practice of Journalism

Miki Turner is an award-winning journalist and author who has worked in nearly every discipline in the media industry. She is the founder of the Annenberg Cross-Cultural Student Association and the director of a university-wide Minority Serving Institution Graduate School Recruitment effort.

Adjunct Lecturer

Adjunct instructor

Associate Professor of Communication

Cristina Visperas studies the intersections of race, state violence and the life sciences.

Jay

Wang

Associate Professor of Journalism; Director of the Master of Public Diplomacy (MPD) program

A scholar and consultant in the fields of strategic communication and public diplomacy, Jian (Jay) Wang is director of the Public Diplomacy Program and an associate professor at USC Annenberg.

Adjunct Instructor

Professor of Communication

Dmitri Williams researches technology and society, with a focus on games and community.

Diane

Winston

Professor of Journalism and Communication; Knight Center Chair in Media and Religion

Diane Winston is a national authority on religion and the media as both a journalist and a scholar. Her expertise includes religion, politics and the news media as well as religion and the entertainment media.

Michael

Wissot

Adjunct Lecturer

Lindsay

Young

Assistant Professor of Communication

An expert on social networks and public health, Lindsay Young merges her training in quantitative social science with a critical perspective to explore the social mechanisms of health disparities in underserved, resource-restricted communities.

Sam

Youngman

Adjunct Instructor