PhD in Communication
Margaret Orr Hoeflich, 2024
Describe your dissertation, thesis, or capstone:
For my dissertation, I created mock social media posts debunking common climate change myths and investigated how survey participants responded to these posts depending on whether the topic of the post aligned with the expertise of the source. For example, would a myth about climate change and health be quantifiably more effectively debunked by a healthcare professional than by a broadcast meteorologist?
How did you choose your specific area of study?
Misinformation has a lot of devastating impacts on our society and on the health of our planet. I wanted to be a part of the solution and help find effective ways to combat misinformation about climate change.
How did your academic experiences in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences impact you?
I was able to learn from faculty and fellow students from a variety of different backgrounds. Getting to discuss how the material in a course applied to our own specific interests was such an eye-opening experience and helped me to think about communication, climate change, and misinformation in new ways.
Which accomplishments during your time at Mason are you most proud of?
I am most proud of being awarded the Joe Witte Special Recognition in Science Communication Award in 2023. This award is named for a broadcast meteorologist who has become a fixture of climate change communication. As a fellow meteorologist-turned-communicator, it was such an honor to have this be a part of my Mason journey and legacy!
Are there faculty or staff members who made a difference during your Mason career?
My dissertation committee was made up of four amazing faculty members who challenged me while also supporting me and truly helped me grow into the best version of myself as a researcher and scholar: Professor Ed Maibach (chair), Professor Chris Clarke, Professor John Cook, and Professor Kevin Wright. And, of course, Maria Carabelli and Brittany Sanders are the glue holding all the communication PhD students together!
What advice would you give to an incoming cohort of graduate students?
I would tell incoming grad students to follow your passion even if it takes you somewhere that you don't expect, to use class papers as building blocks for your proposal/comps/dissertation or for publications, to lean on each other for support, and to keep doing the non-school/work things that you love!
What are your current career plans following graduation? What are your long-term career goals?
I am currently working as a contractor with FedWriters supporting NOAA's Weather Program Office as part of the sub-seasonal-to-seasonal team, where I am applying both my undergraduate education in meteorology and my graduate education in communication/social science. Long-term, I hope to work with atmospheric scientists and media outlets to develop effective climate change communication resources and to train quality climate change communicators.