Dr. Changmin Yan holds a Ph.D. in Mass Communications from Pennsylvania State University and is currently an Associate Professor of Advertising and Public Relations at the College of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Dr. Yan’s career encapsulates his commitment to advancing the field of strategic communications and health promotions, underscored by his work in translational research, community engagement, and public advocacy. His research has not only provided insightful analyses on the impact of media and persuasive messaging on health perceptions and behaviors but has also explored the psychological underpinnings of persuasion, making substantial strides in understanding how emotional and cognitive processes influence communication outcomes.

Dr. Yan’s expertise is particularly evident in his active involvement in academic and industry circles. His research contributions span a wide array of projects with significant societal impact, such as investigating the social and health impacts of micro- and nano-plastic emissions from plastic food containers and addressing health disparities among underserved, vulnerable, and special needs populations. Dr. Yan has led innovative projects in early childhood education and audience engagement in health care settings, developed virtual reality-based training programs for diversity and inclusion, employed artificial intelligence technology to promote mental health and healthy aging, and utilized gamification of technology to foster healthy behaviors in early childhood.

Dr. Changmin Yan teaches in the advertising and public relations (ADPR) sequence. Dr. Yan’s teaching portfolio includes a wide range of advertising and public relations undergraduate courses, such as introduction to ADPR, strategy development, brands and branding, media planning and strategy, paid owned and earned media, data analysis, ADPR research, and capstone IMC campaigns, and graduate courses, such as persuasion, health communication, data analysis, and research methods. He has taught at different universities including the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, West Virginia University, Washington State University, the University of Maine, the Pennsylvania State University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His industry experience includes media planning and research at Publicis Groupe and digital media strategy at Razorfish, serving clients, such as New York City Department of Health, P&G, McDonald’s, Verizon, LVMH, and Microsoft.

Dr. Yan earned his B.A. in Communication from the University of Colorado at Denver, his M.A. in Communication Studies with a graduate certificate in International Development from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his Ph.D. in Mass Communications from the Pennsylvania State University, University Park.