Mike Hanus

Mike Hanus, Ph.D.

Lecturer

Advertising & Public Relations

Michael (Mike) Hanus is an assistant professor in the College of Journalism and Mass Communications. He joined the advertising faculty in 2016 and teaches courses on strategic message design and strategy development for advertising.

Mike’s main research interests revolve around new, interactive media and their ability to give users control over their experiences. As a result, he has conducted research on a number of different areas concerning motivation, user choice, customization, product placement, gamification, video games, virtual reality, and online dating. His research has been published in the International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, Computers in Human Behavior, Psychology of Popular Media Culture, Computers & Education, and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Currently, his research focuses on the ways that customization can affect reception of a persuasive message. For example, when users are given control over an advertisement, how does that affect their attitudes towards the product or product source?

Mike recently graduated from The Ohio State University with a Ph.D. in Communication. He received his M.A. in Communication also from Ohio State, and has B.A.s in Psychology and Creative Writing from Miami University. He is very excited to be in Nebraska and is working hard to learn the ways of all things Cornhusker.

For fun, Mike spends his time cooking, reading, and playing video games, basketball, and tennis.