Professor Michael Slater has accepted the position as director of the School of Communication. Slater research focus is in health communication. He has served as the principal investigator of National Institutes of Health grants amounting to over $16 million in total costs and for several years served as director of the Behavioral Measurement Shared Resource at the Ohio State Comprehensive Cancer Center. His research areas also included persuasion, processing and effects of entertainment narratives and testimonials and dynamic processes of identify formation and reinforcement via media use and media content selection.

Slater earned his bachelor’s degree from Columbia University, his MPA from New York University and his PhD from Stanford University. Before moving into a faculty position, he spent eight years working in public relations for technology companies/startups and non-profit health and education organizations.

Slater succeeds former Director Dan McDonald, who retired this summer.