Michelle Chen

Assistant Professor

Michelle Chen

Ph.D., University of Minnesota
MA, University of Minnesota
BA, National University of Singapore

[email protected]

Michelle Chen (Ph.D. University of Minnesota) research is largely driven by her curiosity into the ways new media and digital communication technologies challenge, enable, transform, and shift relationships, power dynamics, and interactions among various groups and communities in society. Her current research focuses on the impact of social media technologies on mental health, social movements, advocacy, as well as the influence of Generative AI on society.

As a scholar, she employs a range of qualitative and quantitative methods such as thematic analysis, quantitative content analysis, interviews, and surveys. Dr. Chen’s research is empirical and interdisciplinary and draws from theories rooted in the fields of mass communication, sociology, and political science.

Michelle teaches courses related to business communication, introduction to communication and media studies, information and society, and new media literacy.

Research Interests & Student Supervision

I am interested in supervising projects in the areas of:

  • Social media research
  • Social media influencers
  • Digital Communication technology
  • Digital technology (e.g., apps, Generative AI, AI chatbots)
  • Digitally enabled social movements (including protest movements)
  • Collective action and political participation (including civic engagement)
  • Social issue advocacy and promotion

Publications and collections

Selected Publications, Books and Collections

  • Song, S., Chen, S.M., & Kim, H. (2025). Coping with Anti-Asian Sentiment: A Qualitative study of appraisals and coping strategies against discrimination. Asian American Journal of Psychology. doi: 10.1037/aap0000380
  • Chen, S.M., Song, S., & Kim, H. (2025). The dual impact of social media on Asian Americans’ racial identity and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. New Media & Society, 1-19. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/14614448241298237\
  • Chen, S.M. (2024) Women’s March on Facebook: Dual impact of tie strength and visibility on collective action. International Journal of Communication, 18(2024), 1449-1472.
  • Chen, S.M. (2019) Women’s March Minnesota on Facebook: Effects of social connection on different types of collective action. New Media & Society, 1-23. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444819882694
  • Chen, S.M., & Zhang (2016). Framing corruption in the Chinese government: A comparison of frames between media, government and netizens. International Journal of Communication, 10(20), 5494-5513.
  • Watson, B., & Chen, S.M. (2015) @todayin1963: Commemorative journalism, digital collective remembering, and the March on Washington. Journalism Studies. doi:10.1080/1461670X.2015.1019549 

Book Chapter

  • Song, S., Chen, S.M., & Whang, C. (2025). Examining the content and engagement strategies of mental health influencers on Instagram. In J. Södergren, & N. Vallström (Eds.), Disability and Digital Marketing (pp. 100-124). Routledge.

Teaching areas

    • New media literacy
    • Business Communication
    • Introduction to communication & media studies
    • Information and society