Erika Higashide

Erika Higashide serves as an Adjunct Professor in the School of Journalism and Strategic Media at Middle Tennessee State University, teaching Introduction to Media and Entertainment with emphasis on media industry evolution, audience engagement, and digital communication impacts. Her cross-cultural background bridges Japanese and American educational systems.

Her educational qualifications include:

• Master of Science in Media and Communication (Middle Tennessee State University), specializing in social media and young audiences
• Bachelor of Arts in Communication with concentration in social and cultural influence

Research focuses on social media's effects on children, intercultural communication dynamics, international communication frameworks, and Japanese cultural/linguistic studies. Her work examines psychological health correlates in cross-cultural adaptation, particularly among young Japanese immigrants navigating bilingual identities.

Her 2023 publication analyzes communication competence as a psychological health indicator in young Japanese immigrants, revealing critical links between cultural adaptation strategies and mental well-being within U.S. immigrant communities.

Teaching extends beyond MTSU to a Japanese supplementary school where she develops language proficiency and bilingual communication skills, enriching her perspective on cultural identity formation in educational contexts.