Shannon Cruz

Shannon Cruz is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Arts and Sciences at Pennsylvania State University. She holds a B.A. and B.S. from Michigan State University (2012), an M.A. (2015), and a Ph.D. (2016), all in relevant fields. Her research focuses on social influence dynamics, particularly in environmental contexts, examining how attitudes are shaped by ideology and persuasive messaging. She investigates climate change communication, partisan divides, and the role of social networks in attitude formation.

Key research interests include climate change policy advocacy, the impact of social media on conservation behaviors, and cognitive frameworks for environmental education. Her work bridges communication theory with applied environmental challenges, emphasizing bridging ideological gaps through effective messaging strategies.

Teaching responsibilities include quantitative methods (CAS 304) and group communication (CAS 450W). No grants or advising roles are explicitly detailed in the provided materials.