Qian Xu
Professor of Strategic Communications and AJ Fletcher Professor
Department: Strategic Communications
Email: qxu@elon.edu
Phone number: (336) 278-6454
Brief Biography
Qian Xu is Professor of Strategic Communications and A. J. Fletcher Professor in the School of Communications at Elon University. She received her Ph.D. from the College of Communications at the Pennsylvania State University. Her research interests focus on the social and psychological effects of online technology, especially as they pertain to perception, information seeking, and cognition in the context of both computer-mediated communication and human-computer interaction. Her research has been published in Journal of Communication, Communication Research, Mass Communication and Society, Media Psychology, Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly, International Journal of Communication, Human-Computer Interaction, Computers in Human Behavior, among others. She has authored and co-authored multiple book chapters. Her teaching expertise includes interactive media and social media strategy, media analytics, media effects, and user experience.
News & Notes
Education
Ph.D. in Mass Communications (Penn State University)
M.A. in Journalism (Nanjing University)
B.A. in Journalism (Nanjing University)
Employment History
8/2022 - present: Professor of Strategic Communications, School of Communications, Elon University
8/2017 - 5/2023: Associate Director of Undergraduate Research Program, Elon University
8/2016 - 8/2022: Associate Professor, School of Communications, Elon University
8/2010 - 8/2016: Assistant Professor, School of Communications, Elon University
1/2009-5/2009: Instructor, College of Communications, Penn State University
Courses Taught
IME 6950 Interactive Media Capstone
IME 6720/COM 4701 Social Media, Analytics & SEO
IME 6060 Interactive Media Strategies
MEA 4600 Measuring Media Impact
MEA 3590 Strategies for Emerging Media
MEA 2800 Data-Driven Strategies for Digital Media
COM 4970 Great Ideas: Issues & Research
COM 1000 Communications in a Global Age
COM 360 Interactive Media
GST 245 Barbados: Culture, Sport, and Media
Service Activities
University Committees:
Mentoring in Meaningful Relationships Coordination Team (co-chair) 2025-present
Graduate Council 2016-2017, 2023-present
API & MENA Implementation Team 2023-2024
Course-Embedded Undergraduate Research Working Group Spring 2023
Undergraduate Research Advisory Committee 2017-2023
Experiential Education Advisory Committee 2017-2022
API & MENA Task Force (co-chair) 2021-2022
Institutional Review Board 2015-2022
Reimagining the "Imagine the Internet" Center Working Group Fall 2021
Strategic Planning Committee 2018-2019
Distinguished Scholar Award Committee 2018
Phillips-Perry Black Excellence ELR Awards Selection Committee 2017
Honors Program Advisory Committee 2014-2017
School Committees:
Interactive Media Master Program Admission Committee 2011-2023
Teacher-Scholar Committee 2012-2014 (Chair 2012-2013) & 2015-2017, 2019-2020
Search Committee for Media Analytics Position 2013(Chair), 2018
Library Committee 2017-2019
Editor-in-Chief
Perspectives on Undergraduate Research and Mentoring, Elon University 2017-2023