Maximilian Wei Jie Wong
Max Wong is a PhD student in Emerging Media Studies at Boston University, where he researches the intersections of gender, video games, and online interactions. His work examines how identity is constructed, performed, and perceived in digital spaces, with a particular focus on user-generated content, and how people come to judgements about others online. He is especially interested in how platform affordances, algorithmic curation, and community norms shape perceptions of identity within gaming environments and broader online ecosystems.
Max employs both qualitative and quantitative methodologies to explore the ways in which digital platforms influence identity construction and social dynamics. His current research investigates gendered interactions in online live-streaming spaces, examining how platform structures and audience engagement shape digital identity performances.
Before beginning his doctoral studies, Max received his M.Sc. in Global Media from the London School of Economics and M.A. in Global Communications from the University of Southern California. He also holds a B.S. from New York University, where he majored in Media, Culture, and Communication.
In addition to his academic research, Max has worked professionally in public relations, where he collaborated with a diverse range of clients, including technology companies, cultural institutions, sports organizations, gaming brands, and nonprofit organizations.
Lara Guvelioglu
Lara Guvelioglu is a dedicated scholar from Istanbul, Turkey, currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Emerging Media Studies. With a rich academic background that bridges public affairs, communication, and media studies, Lara’s research explores the ethical, social, and cultural dimensions of technological innovation in a rapidly evolving media landscape.
Lara’s research interests lie at the intersection of emerging technologies and societal impact. She is particularly focused on the ethical integration and regulation of artificial intelligence, examining how algorithmic curation influences public discourse, creativity, and cultural consumption through a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Additionally, she is interested in the implications of media technologies on creative industries, with an emphasis on how these innovations reshape labor practices and creative agency.
Passionate about fostering equitable technological ecosystems, Lara seeks to contribute to a more inclusive and fair digital future through her scholarship. Through her work she hopes to inform policy, guide industry practices, and deepen academic understanding of the opportunities and challenges posed by AI and emerging media technologies. Beyond her academic pursuits, Lara draws inspiration from her global perspective and cross-cultural experiences, which shape her commitment to creating meaningful change at the nexus of technology and human values.
Lara graduated from Phillips Academy Andover in 2016 before earning a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations from Boston University’s College of Communication in 2020. Her academic journey continued at Merrimack College, where she completed a Master of Arts in Communication in 2022 and a Master of Public Affairs and Administration in 2024. This interdisciplinary training grounds her research in both theoretical frameworks and practical applications, offering a comprehensive lens on the interplay between media, technology, and society.
Alan Wu
Alan Wu is a film editor and director from Baltimore, Maryland. His work has screened at festivals such as Sundance, Berlin International Film Festival, Locarno, Tribeca, and the Toronto International Film Festival.
Alan edited the feature film NAFI’S FATHER (dir. Mamadou Dia, 2019) which took home two Golden Leopards for Best First Feature and Filmmakers of the Present at the Locarno Film Festival and was selected to screen at MoMa’s New Directors/New Films.
He also edited the feature film SWEET THING (dir. Alexandre Rockwell, 2019) which won the Crystal Bear at its premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival. The film continued to garner two Independent Spirit Award nominations and is available to watch on major streaming platforms.
His work on short films includes BAMBIRAK (dir. Zamarin Wahdat, 2021) which took home the Sundance Short Film Jury Award for Best International Film. FRAN THIS SUMMER (dir. MG Evangelista, 2019) which premiered at Sundance and won the Grand Jury Prize at Outfest, and the viral hit LUCKY FISH (dir. Emily May Jampel, 2022) which won Best LBGTQ+ Short and the Young Cineastes Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival and is available to watch on Nowness.
Deepak Rauniyar
Originally from Nepal, Deepak Rauniyar is an award-winning writer, director, and producer, and an associate professor of practice at Boston University. Rauniyar’s films have been screened at top international film festivals including Venice, Berlinale, Toronto, Locarno, Rotterdam, Busan, Hong Kong, and Taipei Golden Horse, as well as venues like the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and Lincoln Center. A former film critic, he became the first Nepali filmmaker to compete at a major global film festival with his debut feature, Highway, which premiered at the 2012 Berlin International Film Festival and was also screened at Locarno.
His second feature, White Sun, was Nepal’s official entry for the Oscars and won the Interfilm Award at Venice and the New Voices/New Visions Award at Palm Springs. In 2022, his short film Four Nights was nominated for the Berlinale Golden Bear Award. His latest film, Pooja, Sir, premiered at the 2024 Venice Film Festival in the Orizzonti competition and was nominated for the Queer Lion Award.
Named one of the “9 New Directors to Watch” by The New York Times, Rauniyar’s films are acclaimed for their exploration of social and political themes, with critics praising his work as “rich and complex,” balancing personal stories with broader political narratives. Before joining Boston University, Rauniyar taught at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, Hunter College, and the City College of New York. He has received grants from the Jerome Foundation, SFFILM, and Tribeca Film Institute, and morel, and has served on juries at the Locarno and Sydney Film Festivals, as well as the Asia Pacific Screen Awards.
Personal Statement: In my work and teaching, I am guided by Bresson’s principle: “Make visible what, without you, might perhaps never have been seen.” I believe that as filmmakers, we must deeply understand our relationship with our characters and the themes in their stories. This understanding of the “why” behind telling a story is crucial to shaping the “how” of making a film—whether it’s defining the aesthetic and technical approach, assembling the team, or securing funding.
Steve Greenlee
Steve Greenlee is the former executive editor of the Portland Press Herald in Maine, where he led the paper to major national awards and recognition that included the paper’s first Pulitzer Prize finalist for a series he directed on climate change. During his 12 years in Portland, he emphasized accountability journalism, advocated for the public’s right to know, oversaw more than 100 journalists across multiple newsrooms, directed the newsroom’s digital transformation, helped lead the company through a transition to nonprofit ownership, and collaborated with other news organizations such as PBS’ Frontline and The Boston Globe. Before that, Steve spent 12 years as an editor at The Boston Globe, where he led a team of award-winning journalists and also served as the Globe’s jazz critic. Early in his career, he was a reporter in Maine, Connecticut and Rhode Island. He has been a contributing writer for JazzTimes magazine and Jazz.com, and he is a musician who plays keyboards in two bands.
Ejae Lee
Ejae Lee, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of public relations in the Department of Mass Communication, Advertising and Public Relations. Her research focuses on exploring how organizations can communicate with stakeholders to build authenticity and cultivate solid and sustainable relationships between organizations and stakeholders. Additionally, Lee is leading an international research project on authenticity and corporate social advocacy as a research fellow at the Arthur W. Page Center at Penn State University. Her work on authenticity in public relations aims to provide practical insights for communication professionals, as well as advance public relations theories and education.
Lee’s work has been published in prestigious journals in the field of communication and public relations, including Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, Journal of Public Relations Research, Public Relations Review, Management Communication Quarterly, and Journal of Public Relations Education. In addition to her research, she teaches courses in public relations writing, research methods, brand management, and social media communication strategies.
Aaron Walker
Aaron Walker is a writer, director, and producer and narrative and documentary film, and a teacher of film production. He worked with the Academy Award winning documentary production company Just Media in Denver, CO as a researcher, editor, project manager, and associate producer before pursuing his MFA in narrative film work. While at Columbia, he participated in a directing fellowship with La fémis, the national film school of France in Paris, and has shot several short films there. His short films have been screened in various international film festivals, most notably TriBeCa. As a teacher, he has been teaching filmmaking for the past decade in Tampa, Florida, where he helped develop the Film, Animation, and New Media program at the University of Tampa, and where he recently directed the student-crewed concert film Together Merrily. He is developing a long term historical romance called Heart Mountain, which takes place in his home state of Wyoming, at the largest internment camp during WWII for Americans of Japanese descent during the war.
April Yue
Cen “April” Yue, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Mass Communication, Advertising, and Public Relations at Boston University’s College of Communication. Her research areas include internal public relations, leadership communication, organizational change management, and corporate social responsibility and irresponsibility. Yue has published in top journals such as Communication Research, Journal of Public Relations Research, Public Relations Review, Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, Journal of Business Research, International Journal of Communication, and International Journal of Business Communication, among others. Her co-authored book, “Strategic CEO Communication,” is set to be published by Routledge in 2025. Yue has received over 10 top papers and research awards from various national and international communication associations and conferences.
Yue serves as the Chief Research Editor at the Institute for Public Relations’ Organizational Communication Research Center. She is an advisory committee member of the International Public Relations Research Conference, an affiliate scholar at the Internal Communication Research Hub at the University of Florida, and an affiliate member of the Global Strategic Communication Consortium. Additionally, she is on the editorial board of Public Relations Review and Communication Reports.
Prior to joining BU, Yue was an Assistant Professor of Public Relations at the University of Connecticut. Yue has taught courses in public relations principles, campaigns, and communication research methods.
Mike Davis
Mike Davis is a copywriter and creative director with 30+ years of experience in the advertising industry. He started out his career agency-side at creative destinations like Digitas and Allen & Gerritsen. He spent time client-side at global brands like Bose and Fidelity. And most recently, he’s worked on his own side as a freelancer. His portfolio of work includes campaigns in all media across the high-tech, healthcare, financial, automotive, travel & leisure, retail, consumer electronics, and food service industries. Davis spent a couple of years contributing to a book called Innovation @ Microsoft, which will be released in the Spring of 2025.
Creative recognition includes Cannes Cyber Lion, Clio, Communication Arts, Site of the Day, MITX, Archive, and Hatch.
Juwon Hwang
Juwon Hwang is an assistant professor of media science in the College of Communication at Boston University. Her program of research is at the intersections of health communication and new media technologies, where she investigates mechanisms through which individuals engage in behavioral changes that can lead to beneficial health outcomes. She also designs evidence-based health campaign messages to promote compliance with preventive measures such as vaccination. Hwang combines conventional and computational approaches, to study how new media technology takes shape of mental well-being, and how political polarization plays a role in shaping individual views over scientific and health issues. Her recent work explores the potential of Virtual Reality as a tool to mitigate mental distress.
Hwang’s research has been funded by the National Science Foundation and Vaccine Confidence Fund. She has written over 20 articles in leading communication and health informatics journals such as Journal of Health Communication, Health Communication, New Media and Society, Journal of Medical Internet Research, Plos One, and Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking. She is also a recipient of Top Paper Award from the Association for Education in Journalism & Mass Communication.