Michael Suman

Michael Suman is a Continuing Lecturer in the Department of Communication Studies at UCLA's College of Social Sciences, where he has taught since 1995. He holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from UCLA and a B.A. from The Ohio State University. His career includes international lecturing in Asia and leadership roles in research centers including UCLA's Center for Communication Policy and USC Annenberg Center for the Digital Future.

Education:

• Ph.D. Sociology, University of California, Los Angeles
• M.A. Sociology, University of California, Los Angeles
• B.A. Sociology, The Ohio State University

Dr. Suman's research examines the societal impacts of media and technology, focusing on four interconnected domains: (1) Internet and digital culture transformations, (2) Violence in television programming, (3) Religious representations in media, and (4) Advocacy group-media dynamics. His interdisciplinary approach bridges communication theory with sociological analysis of technology adoption patterns.

Publications reflect sustained investigation into digital media evolution, with recent works analyzing internet diffusion patterns, health information-seeking behaviors, and e-commerce trust mechanisms. Longitudinal studies dominate his output, tracing technology's impact on traditional media and social relationships across decades.

Dr. Suman has led major research initiatives including UCLA's Television Violence Monitoring Project and currently serves as Research Director for the USC Annenberg Center for the Digital Future, coordinating international research teams.