People

Chris DeFelice

Visiting Assistant Professor

Contact

Office: CIS 3091
Email

Bio

Chris DeFelice, Ph.D., is a Visiting Assistant Professor at the Zimmerman School of Advertising & Mass Communications at the University of South Florida. His research examines new media technology, with particular emphasis on artificial intelligence in entertainment production, streaming-era audience behavior, and the role of strategic communication and social media discourse in shaping public evaluations of emerging technologies. His work has been published in journals including Convergence, Digital Journalism, and the Journal of Current Issues & Research in Advertising. His work has also received numerous research awards from the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC), including top paper awards across advertising, media ethics, and entertainment studies. His current research examines the ethical and moral dimensions of artificial intelligence in creative industries, including how audiences evaluate AI-generated content and how communication surrounding AI shapes its acceptance. He earned his Ph.D. in Mass Communication from the University of Florida and holds master's and bachelor's degrees in Mass Communication from Louisiana State University.

Education

• Ph.D. in Mass Communication — University of Florida
• Master of Mass Communication in Strategic Communication — Louisiana State University
• Graduate Certificate in Strategic Communication — Louisiana State University
• B.A. in Mass Communication — Louisiana State University

Teaching areas

• Ethics & Social Responsibility
• Audience Engagement and Analytics

Research specializations

• Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Media Technology
• Entertainment Media and Industries
• Streaming Services and Audience Behavior
• Strategic Communication
• Social Media and Audience Analytics