She holds a Ph.D. in mass communication from Pennsylvania State University. Her research examines the effects and mechanisms of strategic media messages in shaping consumer psychology and behavior, especially as they relate to health and socially responsible advertising. Her work has appeared in such journals as American Behavioral Scientist, Health Communication, Journal of Communication, and Journal of Interactive Advertising. Moreover, her research has been recognized with Top Paper Awards from leading academic associations in communication including the International Communication Association (ICA), the Association for the Education of Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) and the International Public Relations Research Conference (IPRRC).