Professor, Advertising & Public Relations Director of the Center for Advanced Computer-Human Ecosystems (CACHE) Lab Dr. Ahn teaches undergraduate-level research methods, graduate-level user experience research, communication theory, and advertising and society. Her research examines how social media, video/internet games, and immersive virtual environments influence user attitudes and behaviors. She also directs the Center for Advanced Computer-Human Ecosystems (CACHE) lab. Education: Ph.D., Communication, Stanford University M.A., Communication, Stanford University B.A., Communication/Business Administration, Seoul National University Research Research Interests: Dr. Ahn is the director of the Center for Advanced Computer-Human Ecosystems (CACHE) lab. Her main program of research investigates how interactive digital media transform traditional rules of communication and social interactions, looking at how virtual experiences shape the way the way that people think, feel, and behave in the physical world. Her work has helped establish foundations for the theoretical advancement of virtual experiences in mediated environments and how their effects transfer into the physical world in four different contexts: health, consumer psychology, conservation, and education. Her ongoing work includes a NSF funded project exploring the application of virtual agents to promote STEM learning for children in informal learning environments, such as children’s museums. Her work has been published in a number of flagship outlets, including Journal of Advertising, Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, Communication Research, Journal of Health Communication, Human-Computer Interaction, and Media Psychology.
