Dr. M. Laeeq Khan

Laeeq Khan Bio

Dr. Laeeq Khan (Ph.D., 2014, Michigan State University, USA) is a tenured Associate Professor at the Scripps College of Communication at Ohio University, where he serves as the founding Director of the Social Media Analytics Research Team (SMART) Lab. He is an award-winning scholar with expertise in social media, data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), digital engagement, and technological transformation.

As a computational social scientist, he focuses on understanding how new technologies and data can be leveraged to gain valuable insights and solve global challenges. He has published scholarly peer-reviewed journal articles on social media engagement, information literacy and skills, health communication, digital diplomacy, internet inequality, and online misinformation. As a principal investigator on several funded research projects, Dr. Khan has also been examining the impact of social media on health behaviors among young adults and a project developing a model for understanding information skills and digital inequality. His work has been widely recognized and featured in prestigious outlets such as The Hill, Tribune, and NPR.

Khan is passionate about presenting data science to technical and non-technical audiences, and his leadership skills and analytic expertise create real-world impact. He has more than a decade of experience in industry consulting, executive education, and keynote speaking for various international organizations.

As the Director of the Lab, Khan facilitates industry-academia linkages in cutting-edge social media and analytics applications and leads cross-functional research teams from diverse domains, including Business, Sociology, and Informatics. He has shared his expertise on research projects funded by organizations such as USAID, NSF, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Dr. Khan is committed to training and mentoring the next generation of media, communication, and business scholars. He regularly teaches graduate and undergraduate students, industry executives, journalists, government personnel, and PR and marketing professionals how to leverage data analytics and the broader digital revolution for competitive advantage. He supervises numerous graduate students and postdoctoral researchers.

EDUCATION

2014 – Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
             Media & Information Studies, Michigan State University
             Michigan, United States

2004 – Master of Business Administration (MBA)
              Marketing, Murray State University
              Kentucky, United States

2003 – Master of Science (MS)
             Telecommunication Systems Management
             Murray State University, Kentucky, United States

AWARDS, LEADERSHIP & RECOGNITION

• 2020 – Ohio Faculty Newsmaker Award, Associated Press Top Stories (2020 & 2017)
• 2019 – Invited Researcher – $60,000 budget to establish a data analytics lab at the NUST Business School
• 2017 – Distinguished Alumni Award, Telecommunication Systems Management, Murray State
                University, KY            
• 2015 – Seed Grant Funding for Social Media & Entrepreneurship, Understanding small businesses and
                organizations deployment of social media and analytics tools for customer engagement
• 2014 – Outstanding Achievement Award, MSU School of Journalism, Michigan State University, MI
• 2014 – Kappa Tau Alpha Medal, National Honor Society in Journalism and Mass Communication, In
                recognition of excellence in scholarship, Michigan State University (MSU)
• 2013 – Association for Business Communication (ABC) Scholarship, Presented at the annual ABC
                International convention, New Orleans, LA
• 2012 – AT&T Faculty-Staff Instructional Technology Award of Teaching Excellence, MSU
• 2012 – Research Assistant, Bill & Melinda Gates Research, College aspirations and social media, MSU
• 2011 – CAS Research Excellence Award, ($2500), College of Communication Arts & Sciences, MSU
• 2011 – Research Assistant, Vertical Industry Standards & Technology Adoption, National Science
               Foundation (NSF, $300,000 project)
• 2009 – President, MSU Simply Speaking Toastmasters Club. Michigan

Brief Bio:

Dr. Laeeq Khan is an Associate Professor and the founding Director of the Social Media Analytics Research Team (SMART) Lab at Ohio University’s Scripps College of Communication. He holds a Ph.D. from Michigan State University and is an expert in social media, data analytics, AI, digital engagement, and technological transformation. As a computational social scientist, he uses technology and data to gain insights and solve global challenges. He has published extensively on various topics, including health communication and online misinformation, and has been recognized for his work by outlets such as The Hill, Tribune, and NPR. He also has a decade of experience in industry consulting and teaching, and is dedicated to mentoring the next generation of media, communication, and business scholars.