Kilhoe Na

Kilhoe Na is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication and Media at Merrimack College's School of Arts & Sciences. Their research focuses on strategic health communication during crises, particularly how misinformation spreads and is accepted during public health emergencies. They investigate message virality and the role of emotions like hope in shaping public perception.

Education:

• Ph.D., Communication, The Ohio State University (Columbus)
• M.A., Communication, The Ohio State University (Columbus)
• B.A., French Language and Literature; Mass Communication, Korea University (Seoul, South Korea)

Research Interests:

• Health Communication
• Crisis Communication
• Misinformation Dynamics
• Message Virality
• Communication Technology
• Strategic Communication

Recent Research Trends: Dr. Na's work emphasizes the interplay between emotions, misinformation, and health outcomes during crises. Their 2025 studies validated the emotional congruence hypothesis, while 2024 work explored vaccine hesitancy in online health communities. Earlier studies (2016–2018) examined social media’s role in public health campaigns, including cancer screening and bone marrow donation.

Awards:

• Zampell Family Faculty Fellow

Advising & Grants: No formal advisees or grants listed in the provided data. Their research often collaborates with institutions like The Ohio State University and JAMA Network.

Labs/Teams: No specific lab affiliations mentioned. Collaborates broadly in health communication and digital media studies.