David Ewoldsen, Ph.D. brings an interdisciplinary approach to the study of communication and the media, and draws from communication scholarship, social and cognitive psychology, cognitive science, and cognitive anthropology. A respected researcher and scholar, his most recent ventures have focused on racism and the media, comprehension of media messages, cooperative video game play, entertainment, and the role of attitudes in risky health behavior.
Ewoldsen completed a joint Ph.D. in psychology and speech communication at Indiana University in 1990. Following his Ph.D., he served as a postdoctoral fellow in the cognitive sciences program at Vanderbilt University from 1990-1991. Shortly afterward, he became faculty at the University of Alabama with appointments in the Department of Communication Studies, Psychology, and African American Studies. In 2009, he joined the faculty of the School of Communication at Ohio State University.
betboom dacha dubaiEwoldsen lives in Bath Township with his spouse Nancy Rhodes,[AK1] an assistant professor in the MSU Department of Advertising and Public Relations. They have four grown children and a cat named Allie. When he’s not working, Ewoldsen likes to canoe, kayak, hike and do most things outdoorsy-including flower gardening. He also loves The Who, dislikes most professional teams associated with Chicago, and admits to having a horrible sense of humor.
Dr. Ewoldsen is a professor in the Department of Media and Information. He teaches and mentors undergraduate and graduating students, conducts research, and collaborates with his MSU colleagues and scholars. His primary focus is media and information theory or methods-which makes him a perfect fit to co-teach MI 101: Understanding Media.
Ewoldsen’s key research interests are media psychology, health communication, attitudes and persuasion.
Health and Risk Communication Center