Joe Walther

Joe Walther is a Distinguished Professor and Bertelsen Presidential Chair in Technology and Society at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He holds appointments in the Department of Communication and is affiliated with Harvard University's Berkman Klein Center. His work focuses on interpersonal and intergroup dynamics in mediated communication, including theories like social information processing and hyperpersonal model. He currently explores online hate speech and societal impacts of technology.

• Education: PhD in Communication from University of Arizona (1990)

Research interests include how technology shapes relationships, group behavior, and inter-ethnic conflict. He has directed UCSB's Center for Information Technology and Society and served as a Fulbright Scholar. Awards include Fellowship from the International Communication Association.

Publications: Over 150 articles in journals like Communication Research and Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, emphasizing theoretical contributions to digital communication studies.