Keynote Speakers
Dr. Zacharenia Pilitsidou
Department of Digital Media and Communication at the Ionian University, Greece
Presentation Title: social media and the Construction of Social Identity: Understanding Their Impact on User Behavior
Dr. Zacharenia Pilitsidou is a Lecturer in the Department of Digital Media and Communication at the Ionian University, where she teaches qualitative and quantitative research methods. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the Faculty of Economic and Political Sciences at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), as well as an MSc in Journalism and Mass Media Communication. She received her PhD from the Department of Journalism and Mass Media Communication at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Her doctoral research examined the impact of social media on individuals’ social identity and user behavior, employing a mixed-methods approach and a longitudinal research design. She is currently a postdoctoral researcher in the same department, where her research focuses on the effects of violent media content on adolescents. Dr. Pilitsidou’s research interests include media psychology, social media, digital communication, media effects, social identity, and research methodology, with expertise in quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods, and longitudinal research.
Dr. Sam Coley
Birmingham City University, UK
Presentation Title: Sound Knowledge: Music Podcasts as 'Edutainment'
Dr. Coley is an Associate Professor at Birmingham City University, where he is Course Director for the MA Media Production. He is a member of the Birmingham Centre for Media and Cultural Research and investigates radio and podcast production, the music documentary, aural pedagogies, media education, and practice-based research methodology. As a producer, his music documentaries have been broadcast on networks such as the BBC, Absolute Radio, Greatest Hits Radio and Radio New Zealand. Dr Coley has led multiple British Council-funded audio training collaborations with partner universities in India. He has been a Grand Jury member of the New York Radio Festival since 2012 and is a Trustee of the Charles Parker Archive Trust.
His keynote, Sound Knowledge: Music Podcasts as ‘Edutainment’, traces the lineage from the radio music documentary to the contemporary music podcast and asks what media educators can learn from it. Drawing on his own work as a freelance producer and research into music podcasts as ‘aural pedagogies’, Coley argues that education and entertainment were never in opposition, and that some of the most effective teaching happening today is being done by podcast producers who would never describe their work as ‘pedagogy’.
Conference Speakers
Past Speakers
Prof. Zinka Bejtic
Zinka Bejtic is a Professor and Head of the Department of Art and Design at the American University of Sharjah, teaching film and digital media courses. With a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology, Zinka is dedicated to investigating and advancing pedagogies of creative studio-based disciplines. Her research helps studio educators assess, develop, and enhance specific techniques that target individual students’ needs, enhance student engagement and motivation, and constitute relaxed, supportive learning environments.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Smilena Smilkova
Dr. Smilena Smilkova is an associate professor of Music Education Methodology in Kindergarten and Primary School at Burgas State University "Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov", Bulgaria. Her scientific interests are in the field of music education methodology, piano methodology, psychology. She has published 3 books and many scientific articles in the field of music pedagogy. Her main research and interests are in the perception of classical instrumental music by children and students.University in the US. He is also a lecturer at SMBA University in Fes, Morocco. He was a PhD Joint-Supervision fellow at SIU, Illinois, and MVU, Rabat, Morocco. He obtained his PhD in media and communication in 2014. He served as a US Dept of State Fulbright P4T at UD Delaware (2007/2008). His works focus on cultural studies and anthropology, mainly media, gender, and religious studies. He has edited some books and published articles in these related research areas. El Bakkali has conducted other educational research, having taught English for over 24 years.
Dr. Nana Sifa Twum
Dr. Nana Sifa Twum is a strategic communication scholar, author, and media development practitioner with a deep passion for advocacy, governance, and public engagement. With extensive experience in training media professionals, health communicators, and local government personnel, he has facilitated numerous high-impact capacity-building programmes across Ghana and beyond. His work focuses on strengthening institutional communication, promoting ethical media practice, and advancing development-oriented advocacy.
As the author of Voices for the Ballot – Electoral Communication in Ghana, Dr. Twum explores the power of political messaging, media framing, and civic dialogue through public engagement in shaping democratic outcomes. He is widely respected for bridging theory and practice, translating complex communication concepts into practical strategies for influencing policy, engaging stakeholders, and driving social change.
Through public lectures, conference presentations, and strategic advisory roles, he continues to champion responsible communication as a catalyst for transparency, accountability, and sustainable development in Africa
Mrs. Comfort Umoren-Olorunnisomo
Comfort Umoren-Olorunnisomo Bio - Comfort is a second-year Media Studies Ph.D. student and a dean's fellowship awardee at the School of Communication and Information, Rutgers University, USA. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in Communication and Language Arts at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, where she graduated with a first-class degree and distinction, respectively. Her research examines the complex interplay between social media, disinformation, and social movements, with a focus on their implications for democratic processes in both the global South and the global North. She is an alumna of the Atlas Corps Fellowship Program, where she served as the Global Communications Fellow at Deseret Management Corporation in Washington, DC. She was also a former COO of the Knowledge, Skills, and Entrepreneurship (KSE) Network and worked as a reporter at This Day Newspaper.
Ms. Alicia García-Oliva
Alícia García-Oliva is a PhD student in scientific communication at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) in Barcelona. She studied Law, an MBA and is MsC in Social Psycholoy and in Psychology and quality of life (mhealth). Before the PhD she worked as a manager in Marketing, Sales and Customer Service.
Ms. Yilin Liu
She is a graduate of the Media and Communication program at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Journalism and Communication at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. Her research interests include public opinion, social media, and communication effects. She has published an independent paper titled “Public Influence and Reactions in the Maelstrom of Public Opinion in Social Media Event Coverage.
Ms. Molly Lode
Molly Lode is a professional paralegal, art model, film actor, singer, cartoonist, and dancer based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States. Originally a student of Astronautical Engineering and a NASA Space Grant awardee, Molly unexpectedly found her passion for communication studies while at Arizona State University. She holds an Associate of Science in General Studies from Yavapai College, a Bachelor of Science in Communication from Arizona State University, and is currently earning a Master of Arts in Communication from Eastern New Mexico University. In her personal life, she is an advocate for Autism awareness and LGBTQIA+ representation. In her free time, she enjoys figure skating, floristry, and socializing at her favorite pub.
Ms. Chen Hanying
Chen Hanying is an emerging researcher with a strong academic interest in popular culture studies, drawing on interdisciplinary perspectives from cultural studies and sociology. Her current research focuses on Chinese subcultural communities, particularly underground idol cultures and popular game culture. With a background in both cultural analysis and sociological methods, she explores how contemporary youth cultures are shaped, expressed, and negotiated in digital and grassroots contexts. Chen’s work seeks to bridge theoretical frameworks with lived cultural practices, contributing to a deeper understanding of identity, community, and media in modern China.
Ms. Yayoi Kitamura
Yayoi Kitamura earned her Master’s degree in Civil Law from Meiji University. Following a three-year career in the web industry, she served as a Visiting Instructor at the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1998, where she engaged in developing online educational materials. She subsequently moved into academic IT management as Head of the System Center at Toita Women's College. Since 2009, she has been a faculty member at Kyoritsu Women's University, lecturing on Media and Society, Sociology of Law, and Tourism Media. Her research explores meaning-making in two-dimensional cognition, ranging from Piero della Francesca to Japanese anime. She currently investigates whether the global shift to online courts affects procedural justice, specifically examining how two-dimensional spatial cognition, coupled with the digital divide, influences judicial outcomes.
Assoc. Prof. Abdelaaziz El Bakkali
Abdelaaziz El Bakkali is an associate professor of Media and Cultural Anthropology and a Post-Doc Fulbright visiting scholar at the Center of Muslim Experience (CME) at Arizona State
University in the US. He is also a lecturer at SMBA University in Fes, Morocco. He was a PhD Joint-Supervision fellow at SIU, Illinois, and MVU, Rabat, Morocco. He obtained his PhD in media and communication in 2014. He served as a US Dept of State Fulbright P4T at UD Delaware (2007/2008). His works focus on cultural studies and anthropology, mainly media, gender, and religious studies. He has edited some books and published articles in these related research areas. El Bakkali has conducted other educational research, having taught English for over 24 years.
Asst. Prof. Ali Matay
Asst. Prof. Ali Matay at the American University of Sharjah, holding an MFA from Konstfack, works in cinematic VR, AI filmmaking, experimental cinema, and design pedagogy. An award-winning filmmaker with over fifteen years of teaching experience, he advances research on prompt-based cinematic workflows and new narrative design methods.
Mr. Nathan Kelly Rouse
Nathan Kelly Rouse is a graduate student in the Communication, Media, and Theatre program at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago, Illinois. He is a member of the Lambda Pi Eta Honors Society. Focusing on media and cultural studies, his selected work was previously presented at the 2025 Albazi Symposium.
Mr. Mohammed Mamdouh
Mr. Mohammed Mamdouh With over 19 years of experience in UAE’s media landscape, Mohammed Mamdouh is renowned for his role in elevating regional brands, consulting to government, and contributing to local and regional film productions. He began his career on a Hollywood motion picture while writing and directing his own films and screenplays. His journey encompasses filmmaking, advertising, brand management and education resulting in impactful award winning films, commercials, documentaries and interactive campaigns, all while mentoring the next generation of visual storytellers.
Ms. Jiuzhen Deng
Jiuzhen Deng is a multicultural designer and researcher working at the intersection of media logics and embodied gameful interaction designs. She is currently a Master’s candidate in Media Studies at Parsons School of Design, The New School. She holds a Bachelor of Industrial Design from Syracuse University, where she completed minors in Japanese Studies, Photography Video & Design, and Theater, graduating with high honors. Her work explores how gamification, multisensory experience, and participatory media shape collective perception and cultural value across platforms. Jiuzhen’s research interests include media convergence, embodied play, interactive installations, and experimental audiovisual storytelling. She has led and exhibited self-directed projects integrating performance and sensory design, and her academic practice bridges theory with hands-on making. Her work has been recognized for its interdisciplinary approach to media, design, and affective experience.
Ms. Sâmela Lima
Sâmela Lima holds a degree in Social Communication and is a specialist in Market Intelligence and Talent Management. She earned a Master degree in Languages, Media, and Arts and is currently a PhD student at UNICAMP, Brazil. She serves as Director and Professor at UNASP School of Communication and Innovation, where she teaches in undergraduate and master’s programs. With ten years of professional experience in television, she has worked extensively in audiovisual production and digital content development. Her research focuses on digital communication and transmedia narratives.
Mr. David Esqueda Villegas
David Esqueda Villegas is currently a doctorate student in the University of Sonora in Mexico, where he recently got his master’s in science degree in social sciences after developing a thesis study centered around streaming platforms and teen representation, he previously studied Communications, specializing in media production. Throughout his academic career, he has shown interest in studying TV, media and its impact on young adults. So far, he has published book chapters and articles in both Spanish and English, all of them centered around youth and/or media studies. David is currently developing a thesis project about the impact of TV shows on identity and their potential as a learning tool, as well as focusing on analyzing representation in media, constantly looking for a new TV show to watch and analyze how it represents different social problems.
Mrs. Karima Kartite
Karima Kartite is a first-year PhD student in media and cultural studies. She holds an MA in Gender Studies(2025) and a BA in Representation and Media(2023). Her research focuses on gender, film, and cultural representation, with particular interest in how Muslim women are portrayed in Western cinema. Her broader academic interests include media discourse, identity, and the relationship between visual culture and power.
Ms. Maria-Diana Munteanu
Maria-Diana Munteanu is a Master’s student in Social Media and Marketing Online at the National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (SNSPA) in Romania. Her research interests focus on the digital behaviors of Generation Z, with particular attention to digital dependency, perceived control in online environments, and authenticity in social media self-presentation. She is especially interested in young people’s motivations for social media use, the risks associated with excessive engagement, such as addiction and social comparison, and the evolving demand for authenticity in digital identity construction. Her current academic work further explores interpersonal communication in the social media era, examining how digital environments reshape relationships, influence identity formation, and impact offline interactions among Romanian youth
Mrs. Zhuoran Bi
Zhuoran Bi studies at North China University of Technology. She is passionate about digital media and youth culture, with a particular interest in idol culture and online communities. She enjoys observing how fans interact online, express their emotions, and build shared identities within digital spaces. Her interests also include exploring cultural trends through films, documentaries, and short videos, and experiencing different cultures through travel, which allows her to gain new perspectives on everyday life and social interactions. Through these experiences, she seeks to understand the ways young people connect, communicate, and express themselves in contemporary media environments. She is particularly inspired by diverse perspectives, creativity, and the richness of cultural experiences around the world.
Dr. Tal Laor
Researcher in the field of media, a Senior Lecturer, a founding member of the School of Communication, Head and Founder of Journalism& Radio Studies at Ariel University. Thus far (2024), has published more than 60 peer-reviewed articles in international academic journals in various fields related social media, digital communication, and media theory.
Dr. Zacharenia Pilitsidou
Dr. Zacharenia Pilitsidou is a Lecturer in the Department of Digital Media and Communication at Ionian University. She is also, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Journalism and Mass Media Communication (AUTH). Her research interests include social media, communication, media effects, and research methodologies. She is also a member of the Social Media Laboratory of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
Assoc Prof Dr. Padma Pillai
Assoc Prof Dr. Padma Pillai, has dedicated 22 years to communication studies. With a Ph.D. from Universiti Putra Malaysia and certificate of academic practice from Lancaster University, she is currently the Deputy Dean Internationalisation for School of Arts at Sunway University. Beyond academia, she's a passionate Indian classical dancer, having performed and organized events. Her research focuses on social media, advertising, and human communication, with publications in reputable journals. She's an advocate for student well-being and has received recognition “Hind Rattan Award” for her contributions to education and cultural exchange.
MS. Tracy R. Worrell
Tracy R. Worrell, Ph.D., Professor and Director School of Communication at Rochester Institute of Technology, USA. Worrell has a B.A. from Otterbein University, and degrees in Communication from the University of Cincinnati (M.A.) and Michigan State University (Ph.D.). Her current interests are in examining effective health messaging across media platforms and the impact of health messages in the media.
MS. Yesuselvi Manickam
Yesuselvi Manickam is a lecturer of communication at Sunway University, Malaysia. She
received a master's degree in publishing studies from the University of Malaya, Malaysia, and a bachelor’s degree in media studies from the same university. In addition to teaching, Yesuselvi Manickam plays an active role in helping organize campaigns for nonprofit organizations. Her area of specialization is Public Relations and Health Communication. Her research interests include but are not limited to public relations, health, and corporate social responsibility.
Ms. Gao Jingtong
Gao Jingtong is an undergraduate student majoring in digital media art at Beijing Film Academy. Her research interests include cultural studies, gender studies, digital media, etc. At 22, her works have received international recognition, including the gold medal at the Busan International Art Festival.
Dr. Lisa Tafuro
Director of the University's Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning, St. Joseph's University, New York, USA.
Presentation Title: Building Bridges: Integrating Language, Culture, and Communication in the Classroom
Lisa Tafuro earned her PhD from New York University in 2011 from the departments of Applied Psychology and Speech Language Pathology, with coursework across multiple departments and training for a mixed-methods cross-cultural research experience. She participated in a decade-long research lab experience in the Center for Research in Culture, Development, and Education (CRCDE). Dr. Tafuro is also a certified member of the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA) where she completed coursework and clinical clock hours earning her Master’s degree from Arizona State University. She completed a 9-month fellowship experience at Phoenix Children’s Hospital and United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona to fulfill the requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competency (CCC) in Speech Language Pathology (SLP) through ASHA. Dr. Tafuro earned her Bachelor’s from Rutgers University in 1990 and studied abroad in Reading, England from January – June 1990.
Currently, Dr. Tafuro is a full-time associate professor at St. Joseph’s University, NY where she teaches undergraduate coursework in speech language pathology and is on faculty in the teacher educator program for Infant and Toddler Special Educators. She serves as the director of the University’s Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning. Her research interests include a focus on early childhood education and language learning in a cultural context.
Dr. Sheyla Moroni
Sheyla Moroni holds a PhD in Contemporary History (awarded). She is currently Assistant professor of History at the University of Florence. She has been a member of international and European projects (V-Democracy and T@sk) and participates in national research groups. She is part on the scientific committee of publishing series. Her areas of interest are urban, cultural and Public history.
Mr. Minseok Doo
Minseok Doo is currently pursuing a BFA in Interactive Art and an MAT (pre-K-12) at the Maryland Institute College of Art. He previously studied at the Ringling College of Art and Design, where he was majoring in Game Art for his BFA, but withdrew in the spring of 2023. His areas of study include ludology, interactive art, and art education.