Department: School of Communication Studies  

Areas of expertise:

• Climate change 
• Mis/Disinformation 
• Health communication 
• AI, conspiracy theories and trust 
• Fake news and journalism 
• Media literacy and science literacy  

Dr. Ittefaq teaches public relations writing, health communication and environmental communication. 

Dr. Ittefaq’s research focuses on the ways people consume and interact with information through mainstream and social media, including how they interpret scientific messages, make decisions related to health and climate, and support policies related to science. Additionally, his research focuses on environmental communication, examining the process of effectively conveying information and raising awareness about the causes, consequences and solutions related to climate change, health and politics.  

Ittefaq earned a bachelor's degree in communication studies at the University of the Punjab, a master's degree in media and communication at Ilmenau University of Technology and a doctorate in journalism and mass communication at the University of Kansas. 

Media contact: Chad Saylor, saylorcx@jmu.edu