Robin Nabi

Robin Nabi is a Professor in the Department of Communication at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). She holds a PhD from the Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania. Her research focuses on the interplay between emotion and cognition in media influence, particularly in health and social issue messaging. Key areas include emotional processing of media, risk perception, and the role of entertainment media in attitude change. She has authored over 80 articles and co-edited the SAGE Handbook of Media Processes and Effects.

Education: AB in Government from Harvard College (1990), MA/PhD in Communication from the Annenberg School (1994/1998). Academic roles include Professor at UCSB since 2009, prior roles at the University of Arizona (1998–2004), and editorial leadership in top journals like Media Psychology and Journal of Communication.

Research emphasizes emotional dynamics in media effects, including stress reduction via media use, emotional framing in health communication, and the impact of digital media on emotional intelligence. Awards include the McQuail Award (2022), ICA Innovation in Theory Award (2018), and ICA Fellowship (2017).

Teaching includes courses on persuasion, communication and emotion, and health communication. Current projects explore media’s role in mitigating stress and enhancing well-being, emotional sequencing in messages, and framing health news.