Dr. Russell B. Clayton is the Distinguished and Endowed Provost McKenzie Professor at Florida State University, where he is a Professor in the School of Communication and Director of the Cognition and Emotion Lab.

He earned his B.S. in psychology and M.A. in health psychology from Texas State University and his Ph.D. from the University of Missouri, with a focus in health and strategic communication. His research centers on media psychology, health communication, and psychophysiological methods, with a particular emphasis on evaluating and optimizing persuasive health messages aimed at preventing and reducing substance use—including drug, alcohol, tobacco, and non-tobacco nicotine use—among young adults.

Dr. Clayton’s research program has been supported by more than $3.4 million in competitive funding from federal (NIH/NCI), state (FDOT), field, and university foundation sources. He has authored more than 45 peer-reviewed publications in flagship communication, psychology, medicine, and health journals and serves on the editorial boards of nine leading communication journals.

Dr. Clayton teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in media and communication studies and has received three university-level teaching awards, including the University Distinguished Teaching award, the university’s highest honor for teaching, presented annually to a single faculty member. He is also a research affiliate of the Florida State University’s Institute for Successful Longevity and the Institute on Digital Health and Innovation.

Current and prospective students interested in learning more about research opportunities or working in a media psychology research lab are encouraged to contact Dr. Clayton at rclayton at fsu.edu.

Ph.D. 2015; University of Missouri
M.A. 2012; Texas State University
B.S. 2010; Texas State University

Health Communication; Media Psychology; Persuasion; Cancer Communication; Psychophysiology

Introduction to Media Psychology; Introduction to Mass Media; Quantitative Research Methods; Mass Communication Theory and Effects; Psychology of Advertising; Media Psychophysiology

GOOGLE SCHOLAR

NIH/NCI R01 (Multiple Principal Investigator; $3.1 million; 2026-2031): Optimizing Social Media Messages Targeting Young Adult Women About the Risks of Breast Cancer from Alcohol Consumption

NCA (Top paper, Communication and Social Cognition Division)

AEJMC (Emerging Scholar Award; Top paper Comm Technology Division)

AAA (Research Fellowship Award)