Michael T. Stephenson is Professor of Communication and Associate Dean in the College of Liberal Arts at Texas A&M University.

Dr. Stephenson joined the faculty at Texas A&M in August 2002. His Ph.D. is from the University of Kentucky.

As Associate Dean, he oversees undergraduate, interdisciplinary, and international programs in the College of Liberal Arts. As Undergraduate Dean, he oversees undergraduate curriculum development and develops and implements initiatives to enhance the undergraduate experience for the College’s 6,000 undergraduate majors. He has oversight for the College’s eight interdisciplinary programs. Finally, he develops and manages the College’s international student programs such as study abroad and other international student collaborations.

Dr. Stephenson’s primary research focus is on the media’s role in changing or reinforcing health behavior. His recent research has examined the effective design and implementation of anti-drug ads directed at parents. This research examines parenting style as an important targeting variable for anti-drug ads. His previous research examined media anti-drug campaigns and how audio and visual features enhance the persuasiveness of anti-drug public service announcements for adolescents. Additionally, Dr. Stephenson and Dr. Lance Holbert (Ohio State University) have collaborated on several investigations related to the use of structural equation modeling in the communication sciences.

Dr. Stephenson’s work has been recognized in seven “Top Paper” awards at national and international communication conventions. He has authored or co-authored over 40 peer reviewed publications and book chapters. He was principal investigator on a research grant funded by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to reduce Latino children’s exposure to second-hand smoke. This research, which involves a media campaign and an interpersonal intervention delivered by local promotoras, is being conducted in two Texas border colonias, Alton and Progresso. He has also served as a co-investigator on a $1.5-million federally-funded grant from the Division of Transplantation and was a consultant on a $2-million federally-funded grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Some of Dr. Stephenson’s publications appear in Human Communication Research, Communication Research, Communication Studies, Communication Monographs, Journal of Communication, American Journal of Public Health, Journal of Applied Communication Research, Health Communication, and Journal of American College Health.