Karen Han

Dr. Karen Han is an Assistant Professor and Area Head for Advertising in the School of Journalism and Media Studies at San Diego State University's College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts. Her research examines advertising effectiveness, digital media strategies, and health communication, with emphasis on consumer psychology in evolving media environments.

Her work explores humor in health messaging, privacy dynamics in augmented reality advertising, social media engagement strategies for sports brands, and nonmedical prescription stimulant abuse prevention. Additional foci include cause-related marketing, native advertising ethics, and crisis communication through brand personality frameworks.

Notable publications investigate parasocial interactions in YouTube advertising, agenda-setting in disaster reporting, soft power in public diplomacy, and eWOM factors in product reviews. Research consistently addresses technology-mediated persuasion across health, commercial, and diplomatic contexts.