News

The Epsilon Upsilon Chapter of Phi Beta Delta (PBD), the honor society dedicated to international education and exchange, welcomed two MESA members into its prestigious ranks. Lead Researcher Dr. Skye Cooley and Student Researcher Chris Boyington were inducted during a special ceremony on April 17, 2025. This chapter is supported by OSU Global, which champions international scholarship initiatives across Oklahoma State University. The event also saw Chris Boyington receive the PBD Student Researcher Award for his outstanding contributions to international scholarship.

Dr. Cooley delivered the keynote address titled "Bridging Research Leadership and Global Opportunities." His presentation emphasized the critical role universities play in fostering international research collaboration, particularly in a time of increasing global division. Dr. Cooley shared insights from MESA's successful initiatives, including the upcoming Media Futures training program developed with the US Embassy in Mexico City, which has evolved into a network of partnerships with Mexican institutions. The keynote address emphasized how international academic connections create resilient relationships while addressing complex global challenges. The induction of MESA researchers into Phi Beta Delta further strengthens Oklahoma State University's commitment to international scholarship and cross-cultural research. 

Dr. Skye Cooley has been selected to participate in The American College of the Mediterranean (ACM) Resident Fellows Program in Aix-en-Provence, France for Fall 2025. The program, designed for visiting professors on sabbatical leave, will provide Dr. Cooley the opportunity to integrate into ACM-IAU's academic infrastructure while pursuing his research interests. Fellows have access to faculty, facilities, library, and archives, with many past participants working on books or research projects and collaborating with ACM-IAU professors and students. "I am incredibly honored to be selected to participate in the ACM Resident Fellows Program," said Dr. Cooley. "A huge thank you to Dean Randy Kluver and Director Jared Johnson for helping make this a reality and to Oklahoma State University for the support of my scholarship and continuing to provide me with amazing opportunities at every turn of my career."

Dr. Sumin Shin, MESA Researcher, presented the project titled "The Effects of Video Background and Device Type on Mental Health: A Study of Meditation Videos Among College Students" at the 2025 Midwinter AEJMC Conference. This paper investigates how different aspects of meditation videos impact mental health outcomes among university students. The study examines two key variables: video background (classroom versus nature settings) and viewing device (VR versus computer), while measuring effects through standardized mental health assessments.

The research findings suggest that while meditation videos can improve mental health regardless of the viewing device used, the environmental context significantly influences effectiveness. Nature-based meditation videos produce notably better distress tolerance, psychological well-being and mood outcomes than classroom settings. This research contributes valuable insights for designing digital mental health resources for young adults, highlighting that environmental context in meditation videos plays a crucial role in enhancing psychological well-being, while the specific digital device used for viewing appears less influential on outcomes. This study advances our understanding of how media and environmental factors can be optimized in digital health interventions.

Three graduate students participated in this project: Shahariar Khan Nobel, Ralph Dinko and Jungyu Lee.

NSI has released two reports supporting the US Strategic Command's comprehensive study on 21st Century Strategic Deterrence Frameworks (SDF). These analyses, produced by MESA Group researchers, examine deterrence from both American and Russian perspectives through 'United States Deterrence Policy: 1944-Present' and 'Evolution of Deterrent Thinking in USSR and Russia: A Look through Military Reports.' The research evaluates current deterrence frameworks, identifies their shortcomings in today's security environment, and proposes alternative deterrence models to address emerging global challenges. This work advances US Strategic Command's mission to develop more effective deterrence strategies for contemporary threats.

Dr. Skye Cooley has been awarded the OSU Global Engagement Faculty Excellence Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to international education and engagement.

The MESA Research Group has been recognized at the 110th Annual National Communication Association (NCA) Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana, with two Top Paper Awards in the Communication and Military Division.

Three MESA graduate students (Chris Boyington, Shahariar Khan Nobel and Ralph Dinko) presented their research at the inaugural Scholar Spotlight Event, hosted by the SMSC Graduate Student Association. Their presentation, "Voiceless Migrants: Divergent Realities in the Framing of Immigration Narratives Across Social Media Platforms," examined immigration narratives across X, Threads and Truth Social. The study was co-authored by Gerardo Rodriguez, who contributed to the research but was not present at the event.

The MESA Group researchers have published a new book titled "Narrative Worldviews of Central American Migration: A Multi-vantage Approach." This comprehensive work offers a unique and holistic perspective on Central American migration, drawing from an extensive range of sources including 40 in-depth interviews with diverse stakeholders, analysis of over 50,000 news media articles and examination of more than 50 policy briefs.

Dr. Asya Cooley has accepted the position of Graduate Coordinator with the School of Media and Strategic Communications (SMSC). In this role, she will oversee the graduate program within the school, providing guidance and support to students pursuing advanced degrees in media and communications fields. Dr. Cooley will be responsible for recruitment, curriculum development, student advising, and program assessment. Her expertise in strategic communication will contribute to enhancing the quality and relevance of the graduate programs. Additionally, she aims to foster transdisciplinary collaborations and expand research opportunities for all graduate students.