Dr. Russell B. Clayton is an Associate Professor of Communication, a University Distinguished Teaching Professor, and Director of the Cognition and Emotion Lab in the School of Communication at Florida State University. Russell is also a research affiliate of the FSU Institute for Successful Longevity and the FSU Institute on Digital Health and Innovation.
BIO: Russell earned his B.S. in psychology (focus in neurophysiology) and M.A. in health psychology from Texas State University. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Missouri with a focus in health and strategic communication. Russell has been on faculty in the School of Communication since 2015. He was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure (early) in 2020. His teaching and research center on media psychology, health communication, and tobacco communication regulatory science. His research has been recognized by the discipline’s leading professional organizations including in 2016 when he received a national research fellowship for his research contributions related to anti-tobacco messaging. In 2020, Russell was nationally recognized as one of four emerging scholars for his research contributions related to anti-vaping messaging. His research has frequently appeared in the leading academic journals in the field including the Journal of Communication; Human Communication Research; Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication; Annals of the International Communication Association; Communication Monographs; and Media Psychology. Russell also serves on the editorial board for many of the flagship journals in the field of Communication. His teaching has also been recognized with three Florida State University teaching awards including the prestigious University Distinguished Teaching award in 2023.
** If you are a current or prospective student and are interested in learning more about research or working in a media psychology research lab, please feel free to email Dr. Clayton (rclayton at fsu.edu) anytime.**
Education
- Ph.D. 2015; University of Missouri
- M.A. 2012; Texas State University
- B.S. 2010; Texas State University
Research Interests
Media Psychology; Health Communication; Persuasion; Mass Media Effects; Psychophysiology; Experimental Research Methods
Teaching Interests
Introduction to Media Psychology; Introduction to Mass Media; Quantitative Research Methods; Mass Communication Theory and Effects; Psychology of Advertising; Media Psychophysiology