Erin Ash

Dr. Erin Ash is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication at Clemson University, where she also serves as a Faculty Scholar in the Clemson University School of Health Research (CUSHR) and an Embedded Faculty Scholar at the South Carolina Department of Public Health.

• Ph.D. in Mass Communications, Pennsylvania State University (2013)
• M.A. in Media Studies, Pennsylvania State University (2010)
• B.A. in Communication, College of Charleston (2008)

Her research focuses on media’s role in shaping public perceptions of social issues, particularly health behaviors and policies. Recent work examines reproductive health attitudes, racial stereotypes in sports media, and narrative persuasion for health policy support. She also explores intersectional representation in gaming and media-induced elevation for intergroup connectedness.

Dr. Ash’s recent publications (2024–2025) emphasize social media’s impact on health communication, including teen pregnancy prevention, cross-cultural communication norms, and maternal health disparities. Earlier studies (2023–2015) analyze racialized athlete portrayals, binge drinking prevention, and media framing of public health crises.

• Award for Excellence in Service, Clemson University (2025)
• Top Faculty Paper, AEJMC (2011)
• Doctoral Award for Excellence in Communications, Penn State (2012)