Muhammad Ittefaq

Dr. Muhammad Ittefaq is an Assistant Professor in the School of Communication Studies at James Madison University (JMU), where he teaches courses in public relations, health communication, and environmental communication. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Kansas (2022), M.S. from Ilmenau University of Technology, Germany (2018), and M.Sc. from the University of the Punjab, Pakistan (2015). His research focuses on science communication, health communication, climate change communication, and misinformation, particularly in the Global South context. He has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles in journals like International Journal of Communication, Journal of Health Communication, and Environmental Communication.

Research Interests: Science Communication, Health Communication, Climate Change Communication, Misinformation, Social Media, Global South, Artificial Intelligence.

• Education: Ph.D. (Kansas), M.S. (Germany), M.Sc. (Punjab)

His work examines how people engage with scientific information across platforms, the role of media in public policy, and organizational persuasive strategies on social media. He has received numerous awards, including the 2022 Mugur V. and Anca Geana Research Award and the 2021 Carolyn Stroman Award. His recent articles analyze fact-checking efficacy in Pakistan, AI adoption by international students, and climate communication frameworks in global contexts.

• Awards: Over 10+ accolades, including scholarships and fellowships from institutions like the Society of Professional Journalists and DAAD.

Teaching: Courses on public relations writing, research methods, communication theories, and health/environmental communication strategies. He integrates practical skills with theoretical insights to prepare students for contemporary communication challenges.