We are welcoming four new researchers this fall. They bring experience in broadcast journalism, campaign management, fact-checking and multimedia reporting.

Iara Roberto is an Assistant Professor of Professional Practice. She earned her M.S. in Mass Communication at OSU and her B.A. in Journalism (Broadcasting) and Spanish for Global Competence at The University of Texas at Arlington. She serves as Vice President of the Oklahoma Broadcast Education Association for 2026 to 2027. Iara brings a strong broadcast background and Spanish language skills to the team.

Simanta Goswami Joy is a graduate student. He holds a B.A. in English from Shahjalal University of Science and Technology in Bangladesh. He previously worked as a campaign manager for Limpid Technologies UK, where he led multichannel campaigns and managed client accounts. Simanta has presented research at conferences in Bangladesh on code-switching, AI and digital English, and representations of masculinity. His research interests include strategic communication, social media, consumer behavior and AI in communication.

Md. Akil Khan is a graduate student. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in Mass Communication and Journalism from Khulna University in Bangladesh. Akil studies message design, social media campaigns and health communication. His work has appeared in Journalism Practice and News Research Journal. He is a former professional fact-checker and a cofounder of Coastal Voices, a U.S. Department of State funded project that trains coastal community journalists in media literacy and environmental journalism.

Jake Hernandez is a graduate student. He holds an undergraduate degree in Multimedia Journalism. Outside the classroom, Jake is a member of OSU Bassmaster and serves as an officer of the fishing team.