News

Skye Cooley, Ph.D., Resident Fellow, delivered a keynote address on Russian gray zone warfare at the Institute for American Universities' American College of the Mediterranean (IAU-ACM) speaker series. The presentation examined the evolution of Russian strategic thought and information operations, tracing how concepts from Soviet-era reflexive control theory have been adapted to contemporary digital environments. Cooley analyzed the integration of information warfare into broader strategic frameworks, exploring how state actors employ coordinated campaigns across multiple domains to achieve political objectives while remaining below the threshold of conventional military conflict.

A new study, published in the Journal of Public and Nonprofit Affairs, examines how Ukrainian news media portray nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) from 2019-2024, analyzing 306 news articles to understand media representation patterns. The research reveals that while NGOs received generally positive coverage and were frequently used as information sources, they were predominantly framed episodically rather than thematically and often portrayed as story attributes rather than primary subjects. This framing pattern may limit public understanding of NGOs' broader societal impact, despite their crucial role in Ukrainian civil society.

MESA researchers published findings of their study examining the effects of video background and device type on mental health. The paper is now available in Computers in Human Behavior journal. The project involved 202 college students in an experimental design that assessed mental health outcomes using multiple validated psychological assessment tools.

MESA graduate student Chris Boyington presented his research "Balancing Narratives in the Balkans: Strategic Information Engagement in Serbian Media Environments" at the Strategic Multilayer Assessment (SMA) Conference at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. His paper presents findings from summer 2024 embedded research with the Balkan Security Network in Serbia, where he examined how competing information operations shape Serbian public opinion and geopolitical positioning. Through direct observation, media analysis, and interviews with Serbian journalists and government officials, Chris documented how Russian information operations exploit historical grievances and cultural ties to create anti-Western narratives that complicate Euro-Atlantic integration efforts.

MESA researchers have published a study titled "Ingroup Favoritism Surrounding COVID-19 Vaccinations in the Hispanic Communities: Experimental Study" that examines how ethnic and linguistic cues influence information-seeking behaviors among Hispanic populations during the pandemic. The research study included participants across Hispanic and non-Hispanic groups and investigated preferences for COVID-19 vaccination information presented through experimental social media pages that varied both the ethnicity of individuals shown in imagery and the language used in messaging.

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. 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.

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.