Saleem Alhabash

Saleem Alhabash serves as Professor in the Department of Advertising and Public Relations at Michigan State University's College of Communication Arts and Sciences. He co-directs the Media and Advertising Psychology (MAP) Lab and holds the position of Associate Director of Research at the Center for Anti-Counterfeiting and Product Protection (A-CAPP) since 2023.

His educational background includes a Ph.D. from the University of Missouri School of Journalism. Prior to academia, he worked in youth-focused nonprofit organizations concentrating on media and well-being.

Alhabash's research centers on cognitive and emotional responses to new/social media within persuasion frameworks, with emphasis on digital marketing applications including alcohol advertising, cyberbullying across age groups, and online counterfeit consumer behavior. His work explores how communication technologies facilitate cross-cultural understanding and stereotype modification while addressing health risks and environmental communication challenges.

His accolades include the American Academy of Advertising's Mary Alice Shaver Promising Professor Award (2014), AEJMC's Institute for Diverse Leadership Fellowship, and multiple best article/top paper awards at academic conferences. He also received Michigan State University's University-Wide Award for Teaching and Research.

As co-director of the MAP Lab and contributor to the Health and Risk Communication Center, Alhabash leads research initiatives including large-scale consumer surveys revealing 70% deception rates in online counterfeit purchases and investigations into social media's impact on alcohol marketing perception.