معرفی
Dr. Yangsun \"Sun\" Hong is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication and Journalism at the University of New Mexico, with additional affiliation to the combined B.A./M.D. degree program. She holds a Ph.D. in Mass Communications from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she minored in Sociology (Intersectionality) and Educational Psychology (Advanced Statistics). Her research employs quantitative methods to examine health communication and health inequities through critical theoretical frameworks.
Dr. Hong's research focuses on the roles of communication in reinforcing or transforming health inequities via two primary approaches: analyzing multi-layered social structures impacting health outcomes, and investigating communicative dynamics (mediated/interpersonal) to redress inequalities. Key research domains include intersectionality, power relations, social determinants of health, digital media effects, and communication ecology. She directs the Digital Media and Communication (DMC) Research Group, facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration.
Her publication portfolio (2015-2025) demonstrates strong emphasis on crisis health communication, particularly COVID-19 messaging strategies, vaccine acceptance, and misinformation. Recurring themes include social media's role in health information dissemination, communication inequalities across socioeconomic groups, and the application of behavioral theories (e.g., presumed media influence) to public health challenges. Methodologically, her work advances quantitative analysis of communication patterns in diverse cultural contexts.
Honors and Awards:
- 2024 Emerging Scholar Award (Korean American Communication Association, NCA)
- 2021 PNMGC Faculty of Color All Around Award (UNM)
- Early Career Scholar Paper Award (2021 D.C. Health Communication Conference)
- Multiple research grants and paper awards
Dr. Hong actively mentors graduate researchers, with eight student co-authors appearing in recent publications. She leads the Digital Media and Communication Research Group, focusing on collaborative projects examining digital culture's impact on health equity. Her teaching portfolio includes graduate seminars on health disparities, intersectionality in health research, and advanced quantitative methods, alongside undergraduate courses in health communication and media effects.
