Dr. Russell B. Clayton is the Distinguished and Endowed Provost McKenzie Professor at Florida State University, where he is a Professor in the School of Communication and Director of the Cognition and Emotion Lab. He earned his B.S. in psychology and M.A. in health psychology from Texas State University and his Ph.D. from the University of Missouri, with a focus in health and strategic communication. His research centers on media psychology, health communication, and psychophysiological methods, with a particular emphasis on evaluating and optimizing persuasive health messages aimed at preventing and reducing substance use—including drug, alcohol, tobacco, and non-tobacco nicotine use—among young adults. He serves on the editorial boards of nine flagship communication journals and has authored more than 45 peer-reviewed publications in leading communication, psychology, medicine, and health journals. He has received three university-level teaching awards, including the University Distinguished Teaching award, the university’s highest honor for teaching, presented annually to a single faculty member.
Lab Manager: Junho Park
Junho Park is a doctoral candidate and the CEL manager in the School of Communication at Florida State University. He is an incoming tenure-track assistant professor at the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Oklahoma. Junho earned his bachelor’s degree in Media Studies from Wheaton College, IL and his master's degree in Media Communication Studies from FSU in May of 2022. He has been on the CEL team since August 2021. Junho's research is at the intersection of media psychology, health communication, and media and religion. During Junho’s free time, he enjoys watching Korean baseball game highlights, going for walks with his lovely wife and puppy, and playing board games with his wife and friends.
Jessica Weinberg
Jessica Weinberg is an undergraduate student in Media and Communication Studies and Music at Florida State University. She has been on the CEL team since September 2024. Jessica is interested in media psychology and media effects with a specific interest in music’s impact on behavior and emotion. During Jessica’s free time, she enjoys painting, writing, cooking, and performing with the FSU classical percussion studio.
Sazzad Mahmud “Shuvo”
Sazzad Mahmud Shuvo is a PhD student with a research interest in health communication with a focus on mental health. Shuvo holds an MA in Communication from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He also has an MA and BA in English Literature from Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh. Prior to coming to the USA, he worked in the non-profit sector for more than eight years in advocacy and communications focusing on health disparities, campaigns, and influencing policymaking processes. He likes to watch movies during his free time.
Catherine Pinkos
Catherine Pinkos is an graduate student in Media and Communication Studies. She graduated with an undergraduate degree in Media and Communication Studies and Sport Management from Florida State University in 2025. She has been on the CEL team since September 2024. Catherine is interested in media psychology and media effects with a specific interest in social media’s impact on body positivity. During Catherine’s free time, she enjoys exercising/being outdoors, watching sports, and doing crafts with her friends.