Welcome!
Turning social data into strategy that moves people
Laeeq Khan
Associate Professor at Ohio University’s Scripps College of Communication
Founding Director of the Social Media Analytics Research (SMART Lab).
I consult with organizations and communities to use social media analytics, AI, and digital strategy for real-world impact.
Let’s connect to explore how data and strategy can drive meaningful change.
Turning complex data into clarity, trust, and strategy
Advancing Knowledge through Data and Insight
As a computational social scientist, my research investigates how social media, algorithms, and emerging technologies shape human communication and digital behavior. I publish widely in areas such as digital literacy, health communication, audience engagement, and misinformation, turning complex data into frameworks that inform ethical, equitable, and human-centered innovation.
From Analytics to Action
I work with organizations and institutions to translate analytics into strategic decisions that drive measurable impact. Through consulting and collaboration, I help teams harness social media data, AI, and digital storytelling to enhance engagement, strengthen trust, and navigate today’s complex media ecosystems with clarity and confidence.
Empowering the Next Generation of Digital Thinkers
As an Associate Professor, I design courses that merge theory with real-world analytics practice—guiding students to collect, visualize, and interpret data for social good. My teaching emphasizes curiosity, critical thinking, and ethical responsibility in using AI and data to understand the world around us.
Leading Innovation through SMART Partnerships
As Founding Director of the Social Media Analytics Research Team (SMART Lab), I lead interdisciplinary projects that connect academia, industry, and community. From USAID- and NSF-funded initiatives to grassroots collaborations in digital equity, I work to transform research into action and foster innovation that serves people, not just platforms.
What I do
Research
Investigating how AI and analytics transform audience engagement, equity, and public discourse.
Teaching
Making data analytics accessible and actionable for students in the social sciences and humanities.
Consulting
Advising institutions and brands on AI strategy, audience analytics, and digital transformation.
About the book
A practitioner-friendly roadmap for turning social signals into decisions. Dr. Khan introduces the DAV framework—Discovery, Analysis, and Visualization—to help teams translate online conversation into clear narratives and measurable action.
- Actionable methods to collect, analyze, and visualize social & platform data.
- Human-centered use of AI tools for audience insight and content strategy.
- Case studies spanning media, public communication, and digital campaigns.
Musings
Recent Publications
Fostering Audience Engagement on Social Media: The Impact of Self-Determined Relatedness on Facebook Brand Pages
Oxford Intersections on Social Media & Society (2025)
Exploring Audience Engagement with ChatGPT-related Content on YouTube: Implications for Content Creators and AI Tool Developers
Digital Business (2024)
Credibility and influence in health messaging: examining medical professionals’ role on X in promoting N95 respirators during COVID-19
Information, Communication and Society (2025)
Latest Writings
Brief Bio
Dr. Laeeq Khan is an award-winning Associate Professor and Founding Director of the Social Media Analytics Research Team (SMART Lab) at Ohio University. With extensive academic and international experience, his work bridges media, technology, data science, and social impact. He has published over 60 peer-reviewed works across social media engagement, AI communication, digital inequality, and health informatics. His leadership includes editorial roles with Oxford University Press, design of innovative academic programs, and delivery of keynote addresses globally. A strategic thinker and data storyteller, Dr. Khan excels in translating complex insights into impactful solutions for academia, government, and industry.
Editor-in-Chief
Dr. Laeeq Khan serves as Editor-in-Chief of Oxford Intersections: Social Media in Society & Culture, a major interdisciplinary series published by Oxford University Press. The series brings together leading global scholars to explore how social media shapes culture, governance, and everyday life in the digital age.
Hours
8am — 6pm
Contact
Let’s connect
For speaking, research collaborations, or consulting, send a note.
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Laeeq Khan, Ph.D. 