Bradley Bond

Bradley Bond is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Communication at the University of San Diego. His research focuses on media psychology, investigating how media exposure influences identity development, particularly for marginalized groups. He specializes in parasocial relationships—audiences' one-sided emotional bonds with media figures—and their societal implications. Bond employs experimental, survey, and content analysis methods.

He holds a PhD, MA, and BA in Communication from the University of Illinois and Bradley University. Bond serves as review and commentary editor for Journal of Children & Media, and editorial boards for Media Psychology and Psychology of Popular Media. His work has been recognized with top awards from major communication associations and featured in TIME, The Atlantic, and NPR. He also advises media companies like Warner Bros. and Disney on authentic representation.

Bond teaches courses like Media and the Marginalized, emphasizing experiential learning. He won the 2020 Teaching Excellence Award from the National Communication Association’s Mass Communication Division. His research bridges academic inquiry with practical impact, addressing media’s role in shaping identities and social norms.