Children, Media and Conflict Zones Lab
People
Initiative Conveners
Yael Warshel (convener), Bellisario College of Communications and College of the Liberal Arts (Rock Ethics Institute and African Studies), Penn State
Idan Shalev (co-convener), Biobehavioral Health and Child Maltreatment Solutions Network, Penn State
Oana Albu, (co-convener), Department of Management, Communication and Society, Copenhagen Business School
Faculty Director of the Lab
![Yael Warshel headshot](/assets/uploads/_1280xAUTO_fit_center-center_80_none/people-warshel.jpg)
Yael Warshel, Bellisario College of Communications and College of the Liberal Arts (Rock Ethics Institute and African Studies), Penn State
Dr. Warshel works at the intersection between international media, child, and conflict zones analysis, practice and policy specializing in peace communication.
Faculty Collaborators
![Preview image for Ida Shalev](/assets/uploads/_640xAUTO_fit_center-center_80_none/people-shalev.jpg)
Idan Shalev, Biobehavioral Health and Child Maltreatment Solutions Network, Penn State
Dr. Shalev’s research leverages behavioral, physiological and molecular methods as it relates to stress and aging across the life span.
![Preview image for Oana Albu](/assets/uploads/_640xAUTO_fit_center-center_80_none/OanaAlbu.jpg)
Oana Albu, Department of Management, Communication and Society, Copenhagen Business School.
Dr. Albu's expertise is at the intersection of communication, digital technologies and organization. Her research focuses on ethnographic studies of human rights organizations in the MENA region (Tunisia, Morocco and Lebanon).
Graduate Research Assistants
Current Lab Members
![Preview image for Rehab Alayoubi](/assets/uploads/_640xAUTO_fit_center-center_80_none/RehabAlayoubi.jpg)
Rehab Alayoubi, an integraged undergraduate-graduate student majoring in media studies with minors in digital media trends and analytics and psychology.
![Preview image for Sabrina Knox](/assets/uploads/_640xAUTO_fit_center-center_80_none/SabrinaKnox.jpg)
Sabrina Knox, a second-year Schreyer Honors Scholar and Presidential Leadership Academy Scholar studying philosophy and English and pursuing a master's of international affairs through the intergarted undergraduate-graduate program.
Former Lab Members
![Preview image for Triwik Kurniasari](/assets/uploads/_640xAUTO_fit_center-center_80_none/TriwikKurniasariheadshot.jpg)
Triwik Kurniasari, a first-year Ph.D. student in mass communications. She earned a master's degree in communication and development studies.
![Preview image for Erin Condo McCracken](/assets/uploads/_640xAUTO_fit_center-center_80_none/Erin_McCracken.jpg)
Erin Condo McCracken, a second-year master of international affairs student with a minor in information, communication and technology for development (ICT4D). She also holds master's degrees in social work and public administration.
![Preview image for Kara Roop Miheretu](/assets/uploads/_640xAUTO_fit_center-center_80_none/KaraMiheretu.jpg)
Kara Roop Miheretu, a third-year Ph.D. dual title candidate in early childood education and comparative international education development.
![Preview image for Aya Al Khatib](/assets/uploads/_640xAUTO_fit_center-center_80_none/people-khatib.jpg)
Aya recently earned her master’s degree in media studies from Penn State, where she also earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism with a minor in political science. In between her undergraduate and graduate years, she worked for the communications division of UNICEF Jordan.
Undergradaute Research Assistants
Current Lab Members
Alexi Om is a third-year scholar in the Schreyer Honors and Paterno Fellows program. As an undergraduate student in the College of Liberal Arts, she is currently pursuing a comparative literature major and a Chinese minor.
Former Lab Members
![Preview image for Rayna Alexander](/assets/uploads/_640xAUTO_fit_center-center_80_none/RaynaAlexander.jpg)
Rayna Alexander, a third-year student, Paterno Fellow and Presidential Leadership Academy Scholar studying political science and minoring in geography.
![Preview image for Lilly Riddle](/assets/uploads/_640xAUTO_fit_center-center_80_none/LillyRiddleheadshot.jpg)
Lilly Riddle, a third-year student, Rock Ethics Institute Fellow and Paterno Fellow in the Schreyer Honors College pursuing bachelor's degrees in political science and journalism.
![Preview image for Luisina Kemanian-Leite](/assets/uploads/_640xAUTO_fit_center-center_80_none/people-luisina.jpg)
Luisina Kemanian-Leite, a sophomore Rock Ethics Institute and Paterno Fellow majoring in international politics with minors in Arabic and Spanish.
![Preview image for Lillian Aronson](/assets/uploads/_640xAUTO_fit_center-center_80_none/LillianAronson.jpg)
Lillian Aronson, a Rock Ethics Institute Fellow and Paterno Fellow pursuing a bachelor's degree in international politics and a master's degree in international affairs simultaneously through an integrated undergraduate-graduate program.
![Preview image for Catherine Ackerman](/assets/uploads/_640xAUTO_fit_center-center_80_none/Catherine.Ackerman.jpg)
Catherine Ackerman, a second-year Rock Ethics Institute and Paterno Fellow majoring in criminology and English.
![Preview image for Renata Daou](/assets/uploads/_640xAUTO_fit_center-center_80_none/RenataDouheadshot.jpg)
Renata Daou, a fourth-year student pursuing a bachelor's degree in political science and journalism, with minors in global security and Middle East studies.
![Preview image for Kristen Miller](/assets/uploads/_640xAUTO_fit_center-center_80_none/KristneMillerheadshot.jpg)
Kristen Miller, a sophomore Rock Ethics Institute and Paterno Fellow majoring in global and international studies, labor and human resources, Latin American studies and Spanish, with a minor in Portuguese.
![Preview image for Kelsey Bell](/assets/uploads/_640xAUTO_fit_center-center_80_none/KelseyBellheadshot.jpg)
Kelsey Bell, a Paterno Fellow and Schreyer Honors Scholar majoring in advertising/public relations, history, and international politics with a minor in Latin American studies, also completing a Master of International Affairs degree through an integrated undergraduate-graduate program.
![Preview image for Pablo Gutierrez](/assets/uploads/_640xAUTO_fit_center-center_80_none/people-gutierrez.jpg)
Pablo Gutierrez, a senior Rock Ethics Institute and Paterno Fellow majoring in anthropology, French language and literature, and history.
![Preview image for Kathryn Lewis](/assets/uploads/_640xAUTO_fit_center-center_80_none/people-lewis.jpg)
Kathryn Lewis, a junior Rock Ethics Institute Fellow majoring in global and international studies, and Spanish.
![Preview image for Josie Krieger](/assets/uploads/_640xAUTO_fit_center-center_80_none/JosieKrieger.jpg)
Josie Krieger, a junior Paterno Fellow majoring in history and economics with minors in Jewish studies and Middle Eastern studies.
![Preview image for Erin Brown](/assets/uploads/_640xAUTO_fit_center-center_80_none/people-brown.jpg)
Erin Brown, a Rock Ethics Institute and Paterno Fellow double majoring in communication arts and sciences and women's studies with a minor in rhetoric and a certificate in Holocaust and genocide studies.