PhD Candidate // Penn State Bellisario College of Communications

Hi there! My name is Cassandra and I am in the final year of my PhD program at Penn State. I conduct mixed-methods research on strategic environmental communication for prosocial and pro-environmental outcomes. Basically, I want to understand how to design media messages that support helpful results for people and the planet, especially when it comes to climate change.

My dissertation, funded through an NSF dissertation research improvement grant, examines the role of solutions journalism in climate risk mitigation from the perspective of journalists and the general public.

During my time at Penn State, I have taught undergraduate courses on research methods and digital media metrics. Before entering academia, I worked as a communications practitioner doing graphic design, social media management, strategic communication planning, and more.

Research Interests

Climate Communication for Collective Action  //  Corporate Social Advocacy  //  Intersection of Climate Change & Public Health

Those research interests are pretty broad, so here are a few more specific questions I have been working on recently: How do depictions of climate futures affect motivations to take action? How do various components of solar news stories affect audience attitudes and behaviors? How does corporate social advocacy impact employees’ relationships with their employers and with specific causes? How does message framing affect the appeal of air pollution messaging?

Want to talk more about my research? Email me at clt5484@psu.edu.

Non-Research Interests

When I’m not teaching or doing research, I like to paint, read sci-fi, cook, take care of my community garden plot, and do yoga. Don’t want to talk about research, but have a book or recipe recommendation to share? You can still email me at clt5484@psu.edu.