His current research focuses on the discourse of public diplomacy, the rhetoric of foreign policy related to media technologies, as well as the impact of global media and media convergence on international relations. He is particularly interested in the comparative study of public diplomacy and media culture as a pivotal resource for international relations, as well as the impact of communication technology on international influence. Dr. Hayden received his Ph.D. from the Annenberg School of Communication at the University of Southern California. Dr. Hayden has an MA in International relations from the University of Southern California. He holds a BA in politics and economics from the University of California, Santa Cruz. He is also the author of "The Rhetoric of Soft Power: Public Diplomacy in Global Contexts" (Lexington Books, 2012).