معرفی
Dr. Sushma Kumble serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Mass Communication within Towson University's College of Fine Arts and Communication. She teaches core courses including Principles of Strategic Public Relations, Media Audience and Analytics, Social Media and Strategic Communication, and graduate-level courses in Public Relations and SEO/Web Analytics.
Her research program focuses on data-driven health communication strategies, utilizing computational methods and big data analytics to combat stigma and improve mental health messaging. Specializing in social media discourse analysis during health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, she integrates psychological frameworks with strategic communication theory to develop practical interventions for health professionals. Key expertise areas include machine learning applications in communication research, stigma reduction techniques, and social media message optimization.
Dr. Kumble's scholarly contributions examine critical intersections of technology and health communication, particularly analyzing celebrity mental health disclosures on platforms like Twitter and evaluating entertainment-education efficacy in public health campaigns. Her work demonstrates consistent focus on reducing mental health stigma through innovative digital methodologies.
Her academic honors include:
- Djung Yune Tchoi Graduate Teaching Award from Penn State
- Don Davis Ethical Leadership Award
- AEJMC Mass Communication and Society Division's promising professor award
- AEJMC Public Relations Division top paper award
With extensive international industry experience in Dubai and London's public relations sectors, plus research work at Carnegie Mellon University's health lab, she bridges academic theory with professional practice. Her current projects involve machine learning analysis of conspiracy theories and WHO's social listening strategies during pandemics.
