I have been teaching since 2005. Over two decades I have taught and trained in the United States, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, France, Canada, Indonesia, Moldova, and Saudi Arabia, in university classrooms, government agencies, newsrooms, and corporate training rooms. That range shapes how I teach: I build courses and workshops that translate across cultures, disciplines, and levels of technical background.
At Ohio University I am an Associate Professor in the School of Media Arts & Studies, Director of Graduate Studies for the doctoral and master’s programs, and founding Director of the SMART Lab. I teach social media analytics, visual analytics, research methods, and digital inequality, and I deliver professional training and consulting for organizations worldwide.
Since 2005
Teaching and training experience
9 / 10
Average course evaluation score
30+
Invited talks and professional workshops
21
Doctoral and master’s theses supervised
Jump to Courses · Corporate training · Philosophy · Mentoring · Recognition
Courses I teach
Current and recent courses at Ohio University, spanning undergraduate and graduate levels in online, hybrid, and in-person formats.
MDIA 4130 · Social Media Analytics
Undergraduate · Fall and Spring, 2015–2026
Social media data enables informed, insightful decision-making. This course introduces the concepts, tools, and best practices of social media analytics, and acquaints students with software for analyzing online interactions. Through readings, case studies, tutorials, and hands-on assignments, students learn to collect, analyze, and visualize social media data and build analytics reports as part of an overall social media plan for an organization.
MDIA 4132 · Visual Analytics
Undergraduate · Spring 2022 and 2024
A hands-on course training students to work with interactive visual interfaces that support analytical reasoning and reveal actionable insight. Students integrate descriptive and predictive analytics into visual representations, moving beyond charts and graphs to multi-dimensional exploratory views. The goal is to think like a data analyst and build effective dashboards and visual analytics solutions in Tableau.
MDIA 4011 · Media and the Digital Divide
Undergraduate · Summer 2017–2020, Fall 2023–2025
An examination of current literature on the rapid global proliferation of new technologies, with emphasis on who has access, command, and knowledge of these technologies, who does not, and why. Readings explore the contours of the digital divide as it shapes and is shaped by culture amid shifting cultural and geopolitical climates.
COMM 5320 · Social Analytics in Crisis Communication
Graduate, online · Summer 2021–2022, Spring 2023–2026
Prepares students and organizations to monitor, evaluate, and prepare for crisis to ensure resilience and timely crisis management. Students learn to collect, clean, analyze, and present social data; find useful patterns and build visualizations through data storytelling; and apply analytics concepts, theories, and evaluation methods to real-world current and historical problems.
MDIA 6130 · Research in Social Data Analytics
Graduate seminar · Spring 2017–2026
A reading-intensive graduate seminar on interdisciplinary research into social data arising from human interaction online. The course covers theoretical principles, approaches, and challenges in social data, then moves to a research project in which students apply that knowledge to produce a paper of publishable quality.
MDIA 6090 · Applied Research Methods
Graduate · Spring 2026
Applied training in research design and execution for graduate students working across quantitative and qualitative traditions.
MDIA 6082 · Introduction to Research in Communication & Development
Graduate · Fall and Spring, 2016–2021
A core course in the Communication and Development Studies graduate program, introducing essential principles of graduate-level research across quantitative and qualitative realms. Students implement a research idea, write a literature review, address ethical considerations, gather and analyze data, and present findings, culminating in a paper of publishable quality.
Previously taught
Sultan Qaboos University, Oman · 2022–2023
Public speaking for business communication students, alongside a visiting scholar and consulting appointment.
NUST Business School, Pakistan · 2019–2020
Digital Marketing Strategy (MKT747), Marketing on the Internet (MKT439), Public Relations & Media Marketing (MKT433), Marketing Analytics (MKT608).
American University of Ras Al Khaimah, UAE · 2014–2015
Digital Resources & Content, Advanced Journalism, Survey of Tools & Technology in Communication, Ethics of Communication, Public Speaking, Globalization and Media Culture, Introduction to Public Relations, Introduction to Communication.
Michigan State University · 2009–2014
Teaching Students Online (CEP 820), Technology and Leadership (CEP 815), The Information Society (TC 100), Social Media & Society (TC 401), Technology & Interpersonal Relationships (TC 402), Understanding Media in the Information Age (TC 101), News Media Law and Ethics (JRN 430).
SZABIST, Pakistan
Geographic Information Systems, with a focus on ArcGIS.
Professional training and consulting
Beyond the university classroom, I design and deliver training for organizations, government agencies, newsrooms, and companies. I have led more than thirty invited talks, keynotes, and professional workshops across North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, on social media analytics, audience engagement, crisis communication, data storytelling, and AI-driven communication strategy.
Sessions run from single-day intensives to multi-day programs, and are built for working professionals rather than degree students. Participants have included humanitarian response staff, journalists, marketers, nurses, business school faculty, and government communicators. I also consult on analytics capability and research design, including funded engagements at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman and NUST Business School in Pakistan.
Selected training engagements
2025 · Pakistan
Implementing Data Analytics and Big Data in Business Education. Training workshop for the National Business Education Accreditation Council and the Higher Education Commission.
2024 · Batam City, Indonesia
Empowering Crisis Management Through Social Media Engagement. Training workshop for the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre).
2024 · Angers, France
Visual Narratives: Unveiling Stories Through Data. Five-day training workshop at the University Institutes of Technology, University of Angers.
2024 · Saudi Arabia
Leveraging Analytics and AI in Social Media Marketing: From Content Creation to Storytelling. Prince Sultan University.
2023 · Ottawa, Canada
Bringing Data to Life: An Interactive Journey into Visual Analytics. Training workshop at the Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa.
2023 · Muscat, Oman
The Power of Story: Crafting Compelling Narratives With Data. Training workshop at Sultan Qaboos University.
2021 · Chisinau, Moldova
Data Analytics for Journalists. Four-day training workshop for Teleradio-Moldova.
2021 · Ohio, United States
Digital Inequality and Healthcare. Professional development session for the Ohio Nurses Association.
2018 · United States
From Posts to Patterns: Social Media and Data Analytics in Practice. Training workshop for the U.S. Department of State Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSI).
If your organization is looking for analytics training, a keynote, or consulting support, get in touch.
Teaching philosophy
Teaching is a value system, not only a source of learning but an institution of mentorship and guidance. I chose it because I can do my part in building a better future, and my goal has stayed focused on imparting quality education that makes a positive difference in people’s lives.
I create a nurturing environment where students become innovators and critical thinkers. My approach reflects what I gained from my own teachers and mentors, and my belief that classrooms are unique places to explore emerging ideas. I subscribe to the Japanese principle of kaizen, continuous improvement: students reach their personal and professional best by making small changes daily and reflecting on their routines, which compounds into substantial gains over time.
Diversity and inclusion. I value diversity not only in race but in thought, reasoning, and scholarship arising from different backgrounds and life experiences. Varied perspectives create the opportunity to inspire and empower students through careful reflection on complex and conflicting issues.
My teaching rests on three commitments.
Learn
I help students understand learning as a life-changing experience rather than a requirement to clear.
Inspire
I make learning enjoyable and lead students to discover the merit in the material for themselves.
Lead
Every individual can be a leader in their own right. Learning should build the life and leadership skills that carry people forward.
In practice this means arriving prepared, teaching from selected readings and current events, and combining a solid theoretical foundation with hands-on practical knowledge. Course evaluations across my undergraduate and graduate offerings average 9 out of 10.
Mentoring and graduate supervision
Advising is where much of the real teaching happens. Between 2015 and 2025 I served as chair or committee member on 13 doctoral dissertations and supervised or examined 8 master’s theses. Through the SMART Lab I have recruited and mentored an interdisciplinary team including 12 doctoral students and more than 20 undergraduate research assistants.
Since 2026 I have served as Director of Graduate Studies for the doctoral and master’s programs in the School of Media Arts & Studies, overseeing graduate admissions, academic advising, assistantship assignments, and curriculum coordination.
As affiliate faculty in Communication and Development Studies, I teach and mentor master’s students in research methods, guiding them from a research idea through data collection, SPSS analysis, interpretation, and reporting, to a paper of publishable quality. I also run the SMART Workshop Series, which trains faculty, staff, and students in current data analytics techniques.
Teaching recognition
2025 · Ohio University
Learn Pillar Award, recognizing excellence in teaching, student success, and experiential learning.
2015 · American University of Ras Al Khaimah, UAE
Teaching Excellence Award.
2012 · Michigan State University
AT&T Faculty-Staff Instructional Technology Award.
I have also led curriculum development at Ohio University, including the redesign of the M.A. in Media & Communication into Media Transformation (2023), contributions to the Ph.D. program reconfiguration in Mass Communication (2020–2022), and committee work launching the B.S. in Data Analytics (2019–2021).
In the classroom and the field
Teaching, training, and mentoring across Ohio University and international workshops.
Laeeq Khan, Ph.D. 