Alcides Velasquez

Alcides Velasquez is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Kansas. He holds a Ph.D. in Media and Information Studies from Michigan State University and previously served as an Assistant Professor at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Colombia. His research focuses on social media's role in political communication, digital divides, and how technology access influences societal inequalities. Velasquez teaches courses on political communication, technology, and media analysis.

Education: Ph.D., Michigan State University (2012); M.S., Georgia Tech (2005); B.A., Universidad de los Andes (1998).

Research Interests: Social media political expression, digital divides, youth activism, online political engagement, and media effects on marginalized communities. Velasquez employs interdisciplinary approaches from communication studies, political science, and social psychology to explore how technology shapes civic participation and inequality.

His recent work examines Latino communities' use of social media for collective action, barriers to mobile communication in resource-poor settings, and the nutritional content of food advertising targeting children. Key themes include the interplay between technology access, identity, and political efficacy.

Grants and Awards: Received funding from the Russell Sage Foundation and University of Kansas grants. Honors include the Langston Hughes Visiting Professorship (2015) and a CSCW 2012 Honorable Mention.

Advising: Supervised numerous graduate students, including doctoral candidates like Tatsuya Suzuki and Sreerupa Sanyal. Involved in thesis committees at multiple institutions.