Glen Nowak

Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies, Co-Director of Center for Health & Risk Communication, Professor, Advertising

About: Nowak is responsible for developing and managing the College’s new Center for Health and Risk Communication, which seeks to foster an interdisciplinary approach to health and risk-related Communication projects, including interventions, campaigns, messaging and messages, news media and provider-patient communication.

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Education

Dr. Nowak received his B.S. in 1982 from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, with majors in both economics and communications. He continued his studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he subsequently earned an M.A. degree in journalism (1987) and a Ph.D. in the field of mass communications (1990).

Experience

Glen Nowak has been the associate dean of research and graduate studies since August 2021. He is a professor of advertising and public relations and director of the Grady College’s Center for Health and Risk Communication. Prior to joining the Grady faculty in January 2013, he worked 14 years at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He spent six years as director of media relations at CDC and six years as communications director for CDC’s National Immunization Program. He has experience in managing and implementing health and risk communications programs, media relations, health information campaigns and social marketing. Prior to joining CDC in January 1999, Dr. Nowak was an associate professor of advertising and communication at the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia. At Georgia, Dr. Nowak taught undergraduate and graduate courses in principles of advertising, communication and advertising research, communication and advertising management, social marketing, and health communications. In the course of his career, Dr. Nowak has authored or co-authored a number of peer-reviewed journal articles on communications practices, social marketing, and health communications, and conducted numerous workshops and trainings on health communication, social marketing, risk communication and media relations.

Using Theory to Better Craft Health Communications Glen Nowak

Glen Nowak and Daniela DeLuca, “Using Theory to Better Craft Health Communications,” pre-conference workshop at annual Society for Health Communications’ Summit, Austin, TX, June 12.

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December 2022 PRNEWS Media Relations Summit Glen Nowak

Glen Nowak was one of three invited panelists for the December 2022 PRNEWS Media Relations Summit – The State of Media Panel. The panel was the opening session in the […]

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nderstanding the Impact of General Vaccine Attitudes on the Intent for Early COVID-19 Vaccination Glen Nowak

Boyle, Glen Nowak, R. Kinder, R. Iachan, and J. Dayton, “Understanding the Impact of General Vaccine Attitudes on the Intent for Early COVID-19 Vaccination,” Vaccines, 2023, 11(2), 235; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11020235. Abstract: […]

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Obstruction f Reporting Through Public Information Officer Controls And Other Means: Responding To The Controls On Free Speech And Free Press Glen Nowak

Glen Nowak, invited panelist, “Obstruction f Reporting Through Public Information Officer Controls And Other Means: Responding To The Controls On Free Speech And Free Press,” MediaFest 2022, sponsored by the […]

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State of Vaccine Hesitancy in the United States Glen Nowak and Michael Cacciatore

Glen J. Nowak and Michael A. Cacciatore, “State of Vaccine Hesitancy in the United States,” forthcoming, in an upcoming issue of Pediatric Clinics of North America, a journal that provides […]

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Crisis and risk management through strategic and operational communications – from disinformation prevention to future pandemics Glen Nowak

Glen Nowak (via Zoom) was an invited panelist for a session on “Crisis and risk management through strategic and operational communications – from disinformation prevention to future pandemics,” at 17th […]

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Advancing Crisis Communication Effectiveness: Integrating Crisis Scholarship with Practice Bryan H. Reber, Yan Jin & Glen Nowak

Bryan Reber, Yan Jin, and Glen Nowak. (forthcoming). “Advancing Crisis Communication Effectiveness: Integrating Crisis Scholarship with Practice.” The Handbook of Crisis Communication (2nd edition) (Eds. W. T. Coombs and S. J. Holladay), Wiley-Blackwell.  Abstract: Reber, Jin, […]

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Tools and Techniques for Building & Sustaining Trust in Health Information Glen Nowak

Glen Nowak was an invited panelist for a session on “Tools and Techniques for Building & Sustaining Trust in Health Information,” at National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing, and Media, […]

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Better Understanding Adult COVID-19 Vaccination Hesitancy and Refusal: The Influence of Broader Beliefs about Vaccines Glen Nowak

John Boyle, Glen Nowak, Rachel Kinder, Ronaldo Iachan and James Dayton. “Better Understanding Adult COVID-19 Vaccination Hesitancy and Refusal: The Influence of Broader Beliefs about Vaccines,” International Journal of Environmental […]

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National Science Foundation Development Grant Glen Nowak and Michael Cacciatore

Glen Nowak is a co-Principal Investigator on a $1 million National Science Foundation Development Grant supported under NSF’s Phase 1 funding for projects involving Predictive Intelligence for Pandemic Prevention. This […]

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Proposal Title: “Improving Infectious Disease Models with Longitudinal Surveys of Health Decision Making Preferences and Influences.” Glen Nowak and Michael Cacciatore

Abstract: The objective of this project is to create more reliable infectious disease models that are informed by social science regarding health-related preferences, perceptions and intentions/behaviors. This project will design […]

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What lessons can we learn from the Covid pandemic about how to communicate public health during a time of crisis? Glen Nowak

Glen Nowak was a guest on the Research Comms Podcast, a weekly podcast featuring interviews with “people who are doing inspiring, innovative work in the field of research communications.” The […]

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Research Proposal: “[Creation of a] Southeastern Mountains-to-Ocean Vector-borne Disease Regional Center of Excellence at the University of Georgia.” Glen Nowak

A five-year, $9,987,040 proposal submitted to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). PI: Michael Yabsley, Professor, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, UGA. Co-PIs include Travis […]

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Looking Ahead: Caregivers’ COVID-19 Vaccination Intention for Children 5 years old and younger Glen Nowak

Abstract: Little research has been conducted to examine parents’ intention to vaccinate their young children for COVID19. An online survey with a national U.S. sample of 682 primary caregivers of […]

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COVID-19 Vaccination and Public Health Communication Strategies: An In-depth Look at How Demographics, Political Ideology, and News/Information Source Preference Matter Michael Cacciatore and Glen Nowak

Abstract: Widely accepted public health actions and recommendations, particularly those related to vaccines, are critical to U.S. and global responses to infectious disease pandemics, such as COVID-19. Drawing from nationally […]

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Outbreak Risk Communication: The Role of the Media Glen Nowak

Abstract: As a result of the real and potential harm they bring, infectious disease outbreaks often attract, as well as benefit from, news media attention and coverage.Some infectious disease outbreaks, […]

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Predictive Intelligence for Pandemic Prevention: Heterogeneous Model Integration for Infectious Disease Intelligence, Phase 1 Glen Nowak

Title: “Predictive Intelligence for Pandemic Prevention: Heterogeneous Model Integration for Infectious Disease Intelligence, Phase 1” Proposal submitted to the National Science Foundation, October 4, 2021. Proposal requested amount: $1,171,745 PI […]

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Grant Proposal Submitted Glen Nowak

Title: Finding Ways to Prevent Salmonella Infections involving Birds and People: An Exploratory Assessment of Behavior, Microbiology, and Climactic Factors Proposal submitted in response to 2021 UGA Presidential Interdisciplinary Seed Grant […]

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Do Young Adults Attend to Health Warnings in the First IQOS Advertisement in the U.S.? An Eye-Tracking Approach Glen Nowak and Joe Phua

Abstract: In October 2019, a heated tobacco product (HTP) IQOS debuted in the United States. This study examined young adults’ attention and cognitions in response to an IQOS ad that […]

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Information Sharing and Communications Glen Nowak

Dr. Nowak served as an invited panelist to discuss information sharing and communication needs, strategies, and best practices to inform pandemic influenza preparedness and response. 

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American Communication Strategy for the COVID-19 Pandemic Glen Nowak

Dr. Nowak served as an invited panelist to discuss public health communication challenges and approaches used in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic, including those involving vaccines and vaccination […]

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Countering Vaccine Misinformation, Disinformation, and Mal-Information Glen Nowak

Dr. Nowak served as an invited panelist to discuss challenges and approaches to dealing with different types of vaccine misinformation. His comments focused on the importance of being able to […]

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Getting to Yes: Vaccinating the Hesitant and Resistant Among Populations who Experience Health Disparities and Lower Vaccination Rates Glen Nowak and Alexander Pfeuffer

Abstract:  Getting to Yes is a collaboration with The Tri-County Rural Health Network, UMAS, GSU, and UGA. The overall goal of this work will be to understand the drivers of the […]

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Using Influenza Vaccination Location Data from the 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) to Expand COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage Glen Nowak

Victoria Fonzi, Kiran Thapa, Kishor Luitel, Heather Padilla, Curt Harris, M. Mahmud Khan, Glen Nowak and Janani Rajbhandari-Thapa, Using Influenza Vaccination Location Data from the 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance […]

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Do Young Adults Attend to Health Warnings in the First IQOS Advertisement in the U.S.? An Eye-Tracking Approach Joe Phua and Glen Nowak

Abstract: Introduction: In October 2019, a heated tobacco product (HTP) IQOS debuted in the United States. This study examined young adults’ attention and cognitions in response to an IQOS ad […]

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Do Young Adults Attend to Health Warnings in the First IQOS Advertisement in the U.S.? An Eye-Tracking Approach Glen Nowak and Joe Phua

Abstract: Introduction: In October 2019, a heated tobacco product (HTP) IQOS debuted in the United States. This study examined young adults’ attention and cognitions in response to an IQOS ad […]

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Do Young Adults Attend to Health Warnings in the First IQOS Advertisement in the U.S.? An Eye-Tracking Approach. Glen Nowak and Joe Phua

Abstract: Introduction: In October 2019, a heated tobacco product (HTP) IQOS debuted in the United States. This study examined young adults’ attention and cognitions in response to an IQOS ad […]

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Communicating with the Public During a Public Health Emergency Glen Nowak

Glen Nowak is an invited panelist at the June 25-July 2 (virtual) annual meeting of the Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention. The panel session on June 29 is […]

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Adherence to Timely Vaccinations in the United States Glen Nowak

Hargreaves AL, Glen J. Nowak, Paula Frew, AR Hinman, WA Orenstein et al., “Adherence to Timely Vaccinations in the United States,” Pediatrics, 145(3, March 2020):e20190783. Abstract: We used 2014 National […]

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An Assessment of Parents’ Childhood Immunization Beliefs, Intentions, and Behaviors Using a Smartphone Panel Glen Nowak

Boyle J., Berman L, Glen J. Nowak, Iachan R, Middleton D and Deng Y. “An Assessment of Parents’ Childhood Immunization Beliefs, Intentions, and Behaviors Using a Smartphone Panel,” Vaccine, 2020;38(10):2416-2423. […]

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Glen Nowak is part of a $5 million five-year University of Georgia proposal submitted to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration Glen Nowak

Glen Nowak is part of a $5 million five-year University of Georgia proposal submitted to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration in response to a call for proposals to improve […]

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UGA Transdisplinary Earth System Science for Global Solutions and Public Engagement (ENGAGE) Michael Cacciatore and Glen Nowak

Michael Cacciatore and Glen Nowak are part of a $2,974,744 five-year University of Georgia proposal submitted to the National Science Foundation to create a UGA Transdisplinary Earth System Science for […]

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Centers of Excellence for Influenza Research and Response (CIERR) Michael Cacciatore, Glen Nowak, Glenna Read, Bartosz Wojdynski & Itai Himelboim

Glen Nowak, Michael Cacciatore, Bart Wojdynski, Glenna Read, and Itai Himelboim are part of a University of Georgia proposal submitted in response to a National Institutes of Health call for […]

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Understanding flu vaccination attitudes and behaviors: Exploring a measure of health decision-making preferences. Michael Cacciatore and Glen Nowak

Abstract: Annual influenza vaccination has been recommended for all adults in the United States since 2010, but coverage estimates indicate that less than half of American adults complied during the […]

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Communication Challenges during Influenza Pandemics. Glen Nowak

Abstract:  Influenza pandemics have the potential to cause much illness and death and are thus a major focus of public health planning and preparation. As the influenza pandemic that took […]

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Adherence to Timely Vaccinations in the United States. Glen Nowak

Abstract: To estimate 1) the proportion of children not adhering to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended early childhood immunization schedule and 2) associations between schedule adherence, sociodemographic […]

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Using Immersive Virtual Reality to Improve the Beliefs and Intentions of Influenza Vaccine Avoidant 18-to-49-Year-Olds: Considerations, Effects, and Lessons Learned. Nathaniel J. Evans, Glen Nowak, Bartosz Wojdynski, Sun Joo (Grace) Ahn & María E. Len-Ríos

Abstract: Only one-third of adults 18 to 49 years old in the United States receive a recommended annual influenza vaccination. This study examined whether supplementing vaccine information statements (VIS) with […]

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The Global Vaccine Action Plan – insights into its utility, application, and ways to strengthen future plans. Glen Nowak

Abstract: The pace of global progress must increase if the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP) goals are to be achieved by 2020. We administered a two-phase survey to key immunization […]

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Development of a measure to assess vaccine confidence among men who have sex with men. Glen Nowak

Abstract: Recent serogroup C meningococcal disease outbreaks led to meningococcal vaccine recommendations for Southern California men who have sex with men (MSM). Assessment of vaccine confidence is critical to improving […]

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Development of a US trust measure to assess and monitor parental confidence in the vaccine system. Glen Nowak

Abstract: To develop a Vaccine Confidence Index (VCI) that is capable of detecting variations in parental confidence towards childhood immunizations centered on trust and concern issues that impact vaccine confidence. […]

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Book Contract: Advancing Crisis Communication Effectiveness: Integrating Public Relations Scholarship with Practice Yan Jin, Glen Nowak & Bryan H. Reber

Abstract:: Advancing Crisis Communication Effectiveness shows how crisis communication plans and efforts for complex and challenging issues benefit when academic perspectives are connected with practitioner experiences. This book brings crisis […]

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“Effectively addressing opioid drug use and misuse: Identifying the crisis and risk communications challenges and opportunities.” Glen Nowak

Abstract: The epidemic of opioid drug use and misuse in the United States and in many other continues unabated.  Communicating to healthcare practitioners, the public, news media, and those legally […]

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Pandemic influenza vaccines – Communication of benefits, risks, and uncertainties Glen Nowak

Abstract:  Vaccines that would be recommended and offered in response to a novel influenza virus bring many communication challenges. This chapter identifies and describes some of the major issues that […]

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Media Science and Practice Michael Cacciatore and Glen Nowak

Abstract: Given their influence and visibility, understanding how news media cover topics involving medicines and how they provide information to their target audiences is essential when it comes to medicinal […]

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“Communicating during an Outbreak or Public Health Investigation” Glen Nowak

Abstract: Epidemiologists and medical investigators deployed to disease outbreaks and public health investigations involving illness and deaths often need to communicate the journalists, local officials, and community members. This chapter […]

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The 2014-15 U.S. measles outbreak and parents’ vaccination beliefs, confidence, and intentions Michael Cacciatore, Glen Nowak & Nathaniel J. Evans

Abstract: While it seems intuitive that highly visible vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks should impact perceptions of disease risk and facilitate vaccination, few empirical studies exist to confirm or dispel these beliefs. […]

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Inadequate and incomplete: Chinese newspapers’ coverage of the first licensed human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in China Michael Cacciatore and Glen Nowak

Abstract: Glaxo Smith Kline’s Cervarix was the first human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine licensed for use in China in July 2016 and officially launched there on July 31, 2017. Since news […]

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Nowak, Glen
In the News

Vaccine hesitancy persists among parents

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Age may rival politics in COVID-19 vaccine debate

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Glen Nowak shares goals of graduate studies at Grady College

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Glen Nowak named associate dean for research and graduate studies

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New crisis communication book melds scholarly research with practitioner experience

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Article on COVID-19 vaccination acceptance co-authored by Glen Nowak published in New England Journal of Medicine

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How journalists are handling news about the coronavirus outbreak

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Nowak discusses how news media face COVID-19 challenges

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Encouraging young adults who don’t get a flu vaccination to get one: Study finds virtual reality may provide a path to increased acceptance

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More people getting flu vaccine this year

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Let's Talk About Sex: It Could Put the Breaks on Cancer Epidemic, via NBC News

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