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NORC at the University Chicago

Alex Kresovich

Research Scientist
Public Health
Social Data Collaboratory
Alex is a communication researcher who explores the ways messaging can be used to influence health behavior change.

Alex Kresovich, PhD, is a mixed-method health communication researcher who explores how targeted messaging drives health behavior change. As a member of the  Social Data Collaboratory at NORC, he is passionate about translating behavior change theories into impactful interventions, specifically aimed at improving outcomes related to opioid use disorder, youth mental health, and substance use.

His research consistently shapes the national conversation at the intersection of digital media and public health. Most recently, his first-authored research on strengthening oversight of prescription drug promotion on social media was published in JAMA. Further, his broader portfolio of peer-reviewed work has been featured in JAMA Pediatrics, Health Communication, the Journal of Health Communication, and Social Media + Society, earning widespread media coverage in The New York Times and U.S. News & World Report.

As a key leader within Sherry Emery's Social Data Collaboratory, Alex drives innovative investigations into social media's influence on public health spaces. His significant contributions to the Justice Community Innovation Network (JCOIN) include investigating the impact of partisan media consumption on opioid stigma and exploring how factual knowledge can mitigate blame toward those with opioid use disorders. His recent portfolio also encompasses public perceptions of addiction recovery and emerging research on gambling promotion, showcasing a rigorous commitment to addressing urgent public health challenges through novel technologies and methodologies.

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Expertise

Education

PhD

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

MA

University of Georgia

BS

Cornell University

Honors & Awards

Roy H. Park Doctoral Fellow | 2018

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Presidential Scholar | 2004 - 2005

University of Georgia

Lambda Pi Eta Honors Communication Fraternity | 2007

Cornell University

Appointments & Affiliations

Peer Reviewer

Journal of Health Communication

Peer Reviewer

Health Communication

Peer Reviewer

Nicotine & Tobacco Research

Peer Reviewer

Psychology of Popular Media

Project Contributions

Prescription Drug Promotion on Social Media

A comprehensive, multi-phase analysis of the trends, content, and perceptions of prescription drug promotion on social media

Client:

Arnold Ventures

Assessing the Effects of Cigar Promotion on Social Media

The first comprehensive study to examine the effects of social media promotion of cigars on tobacco and marijuana use

Funder:

National Cancer Institute

Cannabis Prevention & Education Campaigns in Illinois

A study of the effectiveness of the Let’s Talk Cannabis and Unfaded campaigns

Client:

University of Illinois Chicago

Driving STEM Engagement via NOVA’s Twitch Channel

Assessing whether interactive streaming fosters STEM learning and community-building

Client:

National Science Foundation

Media Influence on Opioid Stigma & Policy Support

Analyzing how partisan media shapes views on opioid use disorder and influences policy

Funder:

National Institute on Drug Abuse

Analyzing Opioid Epidemic Narratives on Social Media

Researching how popular social media content shapes perceptions of the opioid epidemic

Funder:

National Institute on Drug Abuse

Publications

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