Nojin Kwak (Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison) is a professor in the Department of Communication at the University at Buffalo (UB), State University of New York. In addition, he currently serves as Vice Provost for International Education at UB. Dr. Kwak’s research centers on the role of communication media – social media, mobile telephony, and other digital platforms—in civic and political engagement. His work has appeared in leading publications in the field, including Communication Research, Journal of Communication, Human Communication Research, Political Communication, Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, New Media and Society, Political Research Quarterly, and Asian Journal of Communication and received numerous top paper awards at major conferences. His recent studies analyze the patterns of social media use and their influence on community involvement, deliberative openness, political persuasion, and political participation. Previously, Dr. Kwak served as professor and chair of the Department of Communication and Media and director of the Nam center for Korean studies at the University of Michigan.

Educational Background

• PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• MA, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• BA, Sogang University

Selected Publications

Kwak, N., Lane, D., Weeks, B., Kim, D., & Lee, S. (Forthcoming). Now we’re talking? Understanding the interplay between online selective and incidental exposure and their influence on online cross-cutting political discussion. Social Science Computer Review. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894439320920790

Zhang, Y., Yue, Z., Yang, X., Chen, F., & Kwak, N. (Forthcoming). How a peripheral ideology becomes mainstream: Strategic performance, audience reaction, and news media amplification in the case of QAnon Twitter accounts. New Media and Society. https://doi.org/10.1177/14614448221137324

Zhu, Q., Weeks, B.E., & Kwak, N. (Forthcoming). Implications of online incidental and selective exposure for political emotions: Affective polarization during election. New Media & Society. https://doi.org/10.1177/14614448211061336

Kwak, N., Lane, D., Lee S.S., Liang, F., & Weeks, B. E. (2021). From persuasion to deliberation: do experiences of online political persuasion facilitate dialogic openness? Communication Research, 48, 642-664. https://doi.org/10.1177/0093650218793050

Kwak, N., Lane, D. S., Zhu, Q., Lee, S. S., & Weeks, B. E. (2020) Political rumor communication on instant messaging platforms: Relationships with political participation and knowledge. International Journal of Communication, 14, 5663-5685.