Kristen Alley Swain

Kristen Alley Swain is an Associate Professor of Integrated Marketing Communication at The University of Mississippi's School of Journalism and New Media. She specializes in risk communication, health communication, media ethics, and public health campaigns. Her research focuses on media framing of large-scale public threats such as climate change, bioterrorism, and health misinformation. She holds a Ph.D. in Mass Communication from the University of Florida, an M.A. from the University of Alabama, and a B.A. from the University of Mississippi.

Dr. Swain’s work emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly in informal science education and the communication of complex scientific discoveries to the public. Her recent projects include analyzing pandemic-era fact-checking strategies, carbon capture innovations, and transportation safety risks. She has directed a science journalism center and served in leadership roles on NIH grants and national security initiatives.

Her teaching spans health communication, media ethics, and research methods, with a focus on practical applications such as student-led sustainability projects for nonprofits and multimedia storytelling for organizations like the Smithsonian. She received the Distinguished Service Award in Sustainability for her contributions to campus initiatives. Her articles appear in journals like Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly and Journal of Risk Analysis and Crisis Response.

• Education: B.A. Journalism (Ole Miss, 1988), M.A. Journalism (Alabama, 1992), Ph.D. Mass Communication (Florida, 1999)
• Awards: Distinguished Service Award in Sustainability (Ole Miss)
• Leadership Roles: NIH grant leadership, STEM Innovation Task Force, Undergraduate Council

Dr. Swain’s research and teaching bridge academic rigor with real-world impact, addressing societal challenges through ethical, evidence-based communication strategies.