New researchers join Grady College faculty

Grady College is proud to welcome three new tenured/tenure-track members to its faculty, enhancing its research expertise in the effects of digital media, AI and social media on human behavior and in the media landscape.

Three scholars are joining the Department of Advertising and Public Relations: Joshua Cloudy, Mengqi Liao and Lance Porter.

“The Department of Advertising and Public Relations is excited to welcome three new faculty members to join our highly talented and motivated team,” said Juan Meng, head of AdPR. “Their passion, dedication and expertise in both teaching and research will continue enriching our students’ learning experience, growth and achievements. Welcome to the team!”

Joshua Cloudy joins AdPR as an assistant professor in advertising. Cloudy recently earned a doctorate in media and communication from Texas Tech University and his main area of research is studying impact of digital media on intergroup conflict. His dissertation topic was “Vulnerable Online: Identifying Motivational and Personality Factors Related to Individual Susceptibility to Online Extremists’ Recruitment Messages.” Cloudy will teach undergraduate and graduate level courses in advertising principles, sports advertising, advertising and communication management, among others. He received his BA and MS degrees from the University of Louisville.  

Lance Porter (MA ’98, PhD ’02) joins the AdPR faculty as the King Distinguished Professor in Advertising. Porter has taught at Louisiana State University Manship School of Mass Communication since 2004, most recently as a tenured professor. He served as interim associate dean of undergraduate studies and administration from 2020 to 2022 and is the founding director of the Social Media Analysis and Creation Lab at LSU. Porter’s research focuses on digital media and how it effects media landscape, culture and power dynamics. He earned a bachelor’s degree in banking and finance from Mississippi State University, furthering his education with a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in mass communication from Grady College.

Mengqi “Maggie” Liao is a new assistant professor, teaching courses in online digital analytics, persuasion, quantitative research methods and the effects of social media. Her research specializes in how AI systems effects persuasion, users’ cognitive information processing, privacy concerns, misinformation susceptibility, psychological well-being and trust. Liao earned her doctorate and master’s degrees in mass communication and media studies from Penn State University. She has a bachelor’s degree in public relations and advertising from Hong Kong Baptist University.

The College is pleased to also welcome several new instructors for the upcoming school year including:

            • Lauren Baggett (ABJ ’09, MA ’17) — instructor and New Media Institute communications director

            • Alex Crevar (AB ’93, MA ’15) — part-time instructor in the Department of Journalism teaching Graduate Newsroom

            • Skylar Nicholson Bandoly (AB ’20, MA ’22) — part-time instructor in the Department of Journalism teaching a segment of Reporting I

Author: Sarah E. Freeman, freemans@uga.edu