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Mark is a visiting scholar in the Department of Communication. Mark Hineline's current research focuses on the role that actors within the book publishing trade played in framing the modern environmental movement in the United States.
Email : mlhineline@ucsd.edu -
Nik Usher, PhD (they/them) is a visiting scholar in the Department of Communication. Dr. Usher is an associate professor at the University of San Diego. At UCSD, they are pursuing coursework and scholarship for their Mellon Foundation New Directions Fellowship, which provides support for mid-career training in a second discipline (econometrics and applied statistics). Dr. Usher’s research focuses on the intersection of new technology, politics, and journalism. Some current areas of interest include democratic backsliding, media economics, corruption, and inequality.
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Dr. Chen Zhang is an Associate Professor at the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, specializing in online audiovisual media and youth social engagement. She holds a Ph.D. in Journalism and Communication from Tsinghua University and completed postdoctoral work at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Her current research explores the impact of AI chatbots on youth prosocial behavior and the formation of digital cultural enclaves in Chinese diaspora communities. She leads projects funded by national and municipal foundations and has published extensively on topics such as digital media governance, identity construction, and content regulation.