Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania

06/05/2026

Recent doctoral graduate Brittany Zulkiewicz examines how communication can improve public health:

Graduate Student News 4 Jun 2026 Understanding Vaccine Hesitancy and Building Healthy Lives Recent doctoral graduate Brittany Zulkiewicz examines how communication can improve public health. By Hailey Reissman Brittany Zulkiewicz is on a mission to find the best ways to keep people healthy. The rece...

05/30/2026

Congratulations to graduating communications major Angele Diamacoune for winning the Ga***rd P. Harnwell Flag Award during this year's Ivy Day Ceremony!

The Harnwell Flag Ward celebrates the tremendous campus growth and diversification of Penn during the 1953-1970 tenure of its namesake, President Ga***rd P. Harnwell, who believed that selfless service to the university and the community would impact generations to come. Established in 1969, this award honors Harnwell’s ideals with a Penn flag that continues to “ripple the wind” over College Hall. This award which was flown over College Hall is presented today in honor of President Harnwell’s public service to the University.

Join us in congratulating Angele!

05/29/2026

Last month, the Center for Information Networks and Democracy (CIND) hosted its 2026 Workshop, “Guardrails in Communication Networks,” bringing together leading scholars to answer the urgent questions around the current state of online discussions and content moderation.

“This year’s theme was political talk and content moderation and whether the guardrails we impose on technologies enhance or diminish the information we see,” said Sandra González-Bailón, Carolyn Marvin Professor of Communication at the Annenberg School and Director of CIND.

Discussions ranged from large language models, journalistic engagement, to meme forums, and more. The workshop also reflected CIND’s broader effort to foster collaboration and research around the relationship between technology and democracy.

"CIND's mission is to produce evidence-driven research on the benefits and risks that communication technologies present for democracy. A core part of our mission is to convene leading scholars to discuss frontier research and to ensure that our students and postdocs can take part in those conversations,” said González-Bailón.

05/28/2026

P*K Professor Dolores Albarracín and Penn Psychology doctoral student Yubo Zhou studied the relative persuasive impact of messages expressing attitudes, describing behaviors, or combining both:

Research 26 May 2026 What Makes Messages Persuasive? P*K Professor Dolores Albarracín and Penn Psychology doctoral student Yubo Zhou studied the relative persuasive impact of messages expressing attitudes, describing behaviors, or combining both. By Erica Moser, Penn Today Say you’re trying to co...

05/27/2026

A new survey from the Annenberg Public Policy Center finds that only 17% of Americans believe AI will have a positive impact on the United States over the next decade:

Research 14 May 2026 Many Americans Pessimistic About AI’s Impact — And Want More Regulation A new survey from the Annenberg Public Policy Center finds that only 17% of Americans believe AI will have a positive impact on the United States over the next decade. By Annenberg Public Policy Center A...

05/27/2026

Congratulations again to Annenberg’s 2026 Ph.D. and M.A. graduates!

🎓 This year, ten students earned doctoral degrees and 13 students earned M.A. degrees 🎓

05/26/2026

Congratulations to Shane Sheehy, who successfully defended his dissertation last week!

Sheehy conducts studies on the digital propaganda of the far right, conspiracy theories, memetic structures of communication, and the rhetoric of online political communities. His dissertation is titled "Insurrection, Inc.: Far-right propaganda in the tactical gear industry."

Join us in congratulating Dr. Sheehy!

05/23/2026

🎓 Congratulations to all of Annenberg School for Communication’s 2026 Ph.D. and M.A. graduates! 👏

At a ceremony held on Monday, 10 students were awarded their doctoral degrees and 13 students earned their master’s degrees, marking the culmination of years of work and an incredible achievement in their academic journeys.

The celebration also recognized outstanding teaching and mentorship within the community. Doctoral candidate Valentina Proust and doctoral student Arelí Rocha were both honored with the 2026 James D. Woods Award for excellence in teaching.

In her remarks, Dean Sarah Banet-Weiser reflected on her own journey, the meaning of earning a doctoral degree, and the responsibility that comes with it. “Earning a Ph.D. is not just about producing knowledge,” she told the class. “It is about changing how you see the world, and how you understand your place in it — and it is about shaping this world into something more just, more welcoming.”

The full list of graduates and dissertation titles is available through the link in our bio.

05/22/2026

🎓👏 Congratulations to the Class of 2026 Communication Majors! 🎓👏

The Annenberg School for Communication celebrated communications majors at a ceremony held on Sunday, bringing together students, faculty, family, and friends to recognize an important milestone.

Dean Sarah Banet-Weiser opened the ceremony with welcoming remarks, encouraging graduates to hold onto moments of joy and carry them forward with curiosity, compassion, and care as they begin their next chapter.

The celebration also featured remarks from Laura Petro (C’16), Vice President of Brand and Fan Experience at Gotham FC, who returned to Annenberg to honor the occasion and share reflections with the graduating class. Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies Litty Paxton recognized the remarkable accomplishments of students inside and outside the classroom during their time at Annenberg.

Annenberg is proud to celebrate this accomplished class and grateful to the faculty, staff, family members, and friends whose support helped make their journeys possible.

05/20/2026

A new study by Adetobi Moses, upcoming doctoral graduate at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania, offers a window into how communities process collective trauma and makes the case for oral histories as a powerful tool for preserving memories of the COVID-19 pandemic:

Research 20 May 2026 Oral Histories Help Communities Reckon with COVID-19 Upcoming doctoral graduate Adetobi Moses’s new paper explores the power of oral histories. By Hailey Reissman A new study by Adetobi Moses, upcoming doctoral graduate at the Annenberg School for Communication at the Universi...