Lee Ahern

Lee Ahern is an Associate Professor in the Department of Advertising and Public Relations at Pennsylvania State University. Their research focuses on the description, analysis, and ethics of strategic messages in environmental and health communications. Key research areas include message framing, media effects, and the intersection of communication campaigns with public health and environmental policy.

• Affiliations: Affiliate Researcher in IEE Research Themes (Health and the Environment)
• Address: 5 Carnegie Bldg, University Park, PA 16802
• Contact: laa182@psu.edu | (814) 865-8314

Research interests encompass environmental advertising trends, the impact of news narratives on public attitudes, and the role of media in shaping perceptions of global issues such as climate change. Notable projects include studies on HPV vaccine adoption, visual communication effects of cultural symbols (e.g., hijab), and the ethical dimensions of corporate responsibility messaging in media.

Publications span peer-reviewed journals like Health Marketing Quarterly, Environmental Communication, and Science Communication, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to communication challenges in health, environment, and technology.

While no formal grants or advising roles are explicitly listed, Ahern’s work consistently bridges theoretical communication frameworks with applied research on societal issues.