Seungahn Nah

Seungahn Nah is a Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Oregon, College of Arts and Sciences, where he also serves as Associate Dean for Graduate Affairs and Research. Prior to joining UO in 2017, he was an associate professor at the University of Kentucky in both the Department of Community and Leadership Development and the School of Information Science.

Education:

• PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
• MA, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
• BA, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea

Dr. Nah's research centers on the interrelationships among communication, community, and democracy, with a focus on digital communication technologies in civic and democratic processes. His work spans political communication, citizen journalism, civic engagement, and the sociological impacts of AI and social media. He has published extensively in top journals including Journal of Communication, New Media & Society, and International Journal of Communication.

His recent publications reflect a strong trend toward understanding the role of digital and AI-driven media in civic life, with emphasis on credibility, participation, and community-building. Themes include citizen journalism, media effects in networked environments, and the role of social capital in health and civic campaigns.

Scientific Awards:

• Fund for Faculty Excellence Award, University of Oregon (2020)
• Jaewon Lee Distinguished Service Award, Korean American Communication Association (2020)
• Top Poster Award, ICA Political Communication Division (2018)
• Top Poster Award, ICA Journalism Studies Division (2016)
• University of Kentucky Provost’s Outstanding Teaching Award (2011)

Dr. Nah has advised numerous graduate students and secured major research grants from the National Science Foundation, the Knight Foundation, and USDA. He served as founding director of the Community Communication Research Group and the Kentucky Citizen Media Project, and now leads the Digital Media and Civic Engagement Project. He is also associate editor of Mass Communication and Society and Journal of Communication.

Labs and Research Groups: Dr. Nah directs the Digital Media and Civic Engagement Project, which conducts national and global research on digital communication and civic participation. Previously, he founded the Community Communication Research Group and the Kentucky Citizen Media Project, which launched the Lexington Commons, a community-based citizen journalism site.