HALEY R. HATFIELD

University of South Carolina

College of Information & Communications

School of Journalism & Mass Communications

800 Sumter St. Columbia, South Carolina 29208

hrhatfield@sc.edu | haleyrhatfield.com

EDUCATION

Doctor of Philosophy (Mass Communication), 2024

University of Georgia, Athens, GA

Master of Arts (Media Arts & Sciences), 2020

Indiana University, Bloomington, IN

Master of Fine Arts (Digital Art), Thesis: Urban Illusions, 2017

Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA

Bachelor of Fine Arts (Digital Art), 2014 

Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS

ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS

University of South Carolina

Assistant Professor, College of Information & Communications, School of Journalism & Mass Communications (August 2024 - present)

Emory University, University of Georgia, and Spelman College

Research Fellow – Center for Children’s Health Assessment, Research Translation, and Combating Environmental Racism CHARTER (August 2022 - July 2024)

University of Arizona

Board of Vision and Sustainability – Center for Research Advancing Racial Equity, Justice, and Sociotechnical Innovation Centered in Engineering RARE JUSTICE (2023 - present)

University of Georgia

Research Assistant – Center for Advanced Computer-Human Ecosystems CACHE (2020 - 2024), Dr. Sun Joo (Grace) Ahn

Research Assistant – Brain, Body, and Media (BBAM) Lab, (2021 - 2024), Dr. Glenna Read

ACADEMIC PUBLICATIONS

Refereed Research Articles

1. Hatfield, H. R. & Ahn, S. J. (2025). Integrating Community-Based Participatory Research into Immersive Narratives: Co-Designing a Virtual Reality Experience of Environmental Injustice. Journal of Media Psychology.
2. Hatfield, H. R., Mutic, A., Barnes, M., Smith, G., & Ahn, S. J. (2024). Translating Children’s Environmental Health Science Using Virtual Environments: A Community-Based Participatory Research Approach. Environmental Justice.
3. Pfeuffer, A., Hatfield, H. R., Evans, N., & Kim, J. (2024). Illegally Beautiful? The role of trust and persuasion knowledge in online image manipulation disclosure effects. International Journal of Advertising. 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/02650487.2024.2403311 
4. Hatfield, H. R., Hao, H., Klein, M., Fu, Y., Zhang, K., Kim, J., Lee, J., Ahn, S. J. (2024). Composition of and Collaboration Among Communication Scholars in Twenty Years of ICA (1951-2022). Journal of Communication. jqae019, https://doi.org/10.1093/joc/jqae019
5. Hatfield, H. R., Ahn, S. J., Klein, M., & Nowak, K. N. (2022). Confronting whiteness through virtual humans: A systematic review of 20 years of research in prejudice and racial bias using virtual environments. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 27(6), https://doi.org/10.1093/jcmc/zmac016

Manuscripts in Preparation

1. Hatfield, H. R. & Youn-Heil, A. F. (TBD). On being human: An investigation of virtual influencers and activism. Submitting to: Journal of Interactive Advertising.
2. Hatfield, H. R. & Ahn, S. J. (TBD). Do Black Lives Matter in the Empathy Machine? Investigating Whiteness and Immersion on Creating a Shared Reality with 360-Degree Video. Submitting to: Human Communication Research
3. Hatfield, H. R., Read, G. L., Lu, X., Wojdynski, B., & Yoon, Y. J. (TBD). From Jokes to Jabs: Messages emphasizing societal benefits and humor increase college students’ cognitive processing of COVID-19 vaccination messages.

Book Chapters

1. Hatfield, H. R. (2024). Radicalizing Social Virtual Realities. In N. D. Bowman (Ed.)., Emerging issues for emerging technologies: informed provocations for theorizing media futures. Peter Lang.

Refereed Conference and Panel Presentations

1. Hatfield, H. R. & Bowman, N. D. (2024, June). Immersion or Identity Tourism? A Cautionary Note on our Emotionally Connected Future. In K. Doeveling (Chair), Empowering Marginalized Voices: The Emotive Forces of Digital Media in Human Rights Advocacy [Panel Session]. International Communication Association 74th Annual Conference, Gold Coast, AUS.
2. Lee, Y-I., Lu, X., Zhao, W., Kim, S., Duncan, J., Choi, S. I., So, Y., Hatfield, H. R., Sun, S., Read, G. L. (2024, June). The role of image frame and corrective strategy on processing partial misinformation about depression treatments. International Communication Association 74th Annual Conference, Gold Coast, AUS.
3. Farris, I. B. & Hatfield, H. R. (2024, March). Unveiling Invisibility: An analysis of the erasure of transwomen of color in news media. 2024 AEJMC Southeast Colloquium, Lexington, KY, USA.
4. Coley, B. C., Allen, A. M., Artis, S., Bekki, J. M., Kadir, K., Pollock, M. C., Tull, R. G., Walker, S., Vanasupa, L., Williams, R. L., Hatfield, H. R., McGee, E. O. (2024, February 26). View from the Kaleidoscope: Conceptualizing antiracist priorities for engineering as a collective across vantages [Paper Presentation]. 7th Annual Conference of Collaborative Network for Engineering and Computing Diversity (CoNECD), Arlington, VA, USA
5. Ahn, S. J. G., Barnes, M., Hatfield, H. R., Mutic, N., Mutic, A. (2024, February). Using virtual environments to translate critical children’s environmental health information to the community: A hands-on workshop. Partnerships for Environmental Public Health 2024, NIEHS, Durham, NC, USA.
6. Hatfield, H. R. & Read, G. L. (2023, November). Examining whiteness and colorblind racism through social VR diversity, equity, and inclusion policies [Paper Presentation]. National Conference Association 109th Annual Convention, Washington D.C., USA
7. Hatfield, H. R. & Ahn, S. J. (2023, September). Virtual Reality for Research Translation. NIEHS Children’s Environmental Health Research and Translation Centers Annual Meeting, Washington D.C., USA. **Awarded as the Project Most Likely to be Used by Your Peers
8. Hatfield, H. R. & Ahn, S. J. (2023, August 9). Do Black Lives Matter in the Empathy Machine? Investigating virtual time travel to disrupt Whiteness and increase awareness of systemic racism. Collaborative Scholar Program at the 106th Annual Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Conference, Washington D.C., USA.
9. Hatfield, H. R. & Youn-Heil, A. F. (2023, August 7). On being human: An investigation of virtual influencers and activism [Paper presentation]. Mass Communication & Society Division of the 106th Annual Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Conference, Washington D.C., USA.
10. Hatfield, H. R., & Ahn, S. J. (2023, August 3). Race in the Metaverse: Racism, Bias, and Intergroup Contact in Augmented and Virtual Reality [Panel Presentation]. American Psychological Association 2023, Washington D.C., USA.
11. Ahn, S. J., & Hatfield, H. R. (2023, June 15). Resources and Tools to Empower Action: CHARTER (Center for Children’s Health Assessment, Research Translation, and Combating Environmental Racism). Environmental Justice and Climate Protection Conference, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
12. Frank, A.L., S. Yuan, H., Hatfield, H.R., MHEM Browning, & Ann, S.J. (2023). Examining Virtual Reality Hurricane Simulations to Enhance Risk Perception and Perceived Efficacy. Poster Presented at the 4th annual Georgia Climate Conference, May 15-17, Athens, GA, USA.
13. Hatfield, H. R., & Youn-Heil, A. F. (2023, February 24). On being human: An investigation of virtual influencers and activism [Paper presentation]. 2023 AEJMC Midwinter Conference, Norman, OK, USA. **Top Paper Abstract in the Mass Communication & Society Division
14. Hatfield, H. R., Hoa, H., Klein, M., Fu, Y., Zhang, K., Kim, J., Lee, J., Ahn, S. J. (May 25-29, 2023). Composition of and Collaboration Among Communication Scholars in Twenty Years of ICA (2000-2022) [Paper presentation]. International Communication Association 73rd Annual Conference, Toronto, Canada.
15. Pfeuffer, A., Hatfield, H. R., Kim, J. (2023, March 23-26). Will brands make it if they fake it? Exploring the effects of CGI influencer disclosures in sponsored social media posts [Paper presentation]. American Academy of Advertising Annual Conference, Denver, CO, USA.
16. Hatfield, H. R. & Read, G. L. (2022, November 18). Toward Creating Safer Social Virtual Space [Paper presentation]. National Conference Association 108th Annual Convention, New Orleans, LA, USA.
17. Youn-Heil, A. & Hatfield, H. R. (2022, November 18). Actions over Intentions: Understanding the associations of insufficient news coverage and racial discrimination on acts of activism [Paper presentation]. Political Communication Division of the National Conference Association 108th Annual Convention, New Orleans, LA, USA.
18. Pfeuffer, A., Hatfield, H. R., Evans, N., Kim, J. (2022, June 23-25). #Filter - The effects of image retouching disclosures on consumer trust and social comparison [Paper presentation]. International Conference on Research in Advertising (ICORIA), Prague, Czech Republic.
19. Hatfield, H. R., & Ahn, S. J. (2022, May 26-30). Do Black Lives Matter in the Empathy Machine? Investigating Whiteness and Immersion on Creating a Shared Reality with 360-Degree Video [Paper presentation]. International Communication Association 72nd Annual Conference, Paris, France. ** Top Paper in the Information Systems Division
20. Hatfield, H. R., Ahn, S. J., Klein, M., & Nowak, K. N. (2021, November 18-21). Confronting whiteness through virtual humans: A systematic review of 20 years of research in prejudice and racial bias using virtual environments [Paper presentation]. National Communication Association 107th Annual Convention, Seattle, WA, USA. ** Top Paper in the Human Communication & Technology Division
21. Hatfield, H. R. (2020, September 8-9). Whiteness and Virtual Reality [Paper presentation]. Political Communication Division of the 116th American Political Science Association PreConference, Online. ** Supporting Projects Aimed at Representation and Knowledge (SPARK) award

GRANTS, AWARDS, AND HONORS

2024: Student and Early Career Representative, Information Systems Division, ICA

2023: Career Development Fellow for the Center for Children’s Health Assessment, Research Translation, and Combating Environmental Racism (CHARTER)

2023: UGA College of Journalism & Mass Communication Augusta H. and Grace Barrett Scholarship

2023: UGA College of Journalism & Mass Communication Diversity and Inclusion Advocacy Award

2023: Michael Haley Travel Fund Award for the 73rd Annual ICA Conference

2023: Top Paper Abstract in the Mass Communication & Society Division; Midwinter AEJMC Conference

2022: AEJMC Collaborative Scholar Research Program

2022: Top Student Paper in the Information Systems Division; International Communication Association

2021: Top Paper in the Human Communication & Technology Division; National Communication Association

2020: Supporting Projects Aimed at Representation and Knowledge; APSA Political Communication

2020-2022: Graduate Assistantship, College of Journalism and Mass Communication

2019: Kern Scholarship for Innovation in Journalism

2018-2020: Graduate Assistantship, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN

2018: Juror’s Choice Award, Maryland Federation of Art, Annapolis, MA

2017: 2nd Place, 14th Annual Forum 35 Art Melt, Baton Rouge, LA

2014-2017: Graduate Assistantship, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA

2014: Transfer Art Student Scholarship, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 2011

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

University of South Carolina

        J203: Principles of Visual Communication

        J346: Graphics for Visual Communication

University of Georgia

ADPR 3120 Media Strategy & Activation

Indiana University

MSCH-J 463 Graphic Design I

MSCH-J 465 Graphic Design II

MSCH-C 226 Visual Communication

Louisiana State University

ART 2050 Digital Art I

ART 2230 Virtual Space & Motion

INVITED LECTURES

Invited as a Guest Speaker

Social Science Foo Camp. Invited attendee at the 2024 Social Science Foo Camp, Meta Headquarters, Menlo Park, CA, February 9-11, 2024

Hatfield, H. R. (2023, November 6). Using Virtual Reality to Address Environmental Racism [Workshop]. Climate Justice. Emory University School of Medicine.

Hatfield, H. R. (2023, October 30). Virtual Reality for Research Translation [Lecture]. EH500: Perspectives in Environmental Health. Drs. Dana Boyd Barr and Parinya Panuwet at Emory University School of Nursing.

Youn-Heil, A. F., Hatfield, H. R., Lenior, L., & Brooks, P. (2023, October 25). Panel Title: “Unveiling Media Realities: Critical Perspectives on Media Literacy”. In the National Association for Media Literacy Education 9th annual USA Media Literacy Week, Virtual.

Hatfield, H. R. (2022, October 23-27). Replicating realities: How online virtual spaces (re)produce offline problems in Metaverse Meets Media Literacy [Virtual session]. National Association for Media Literacy Education 8th annual USA Media Literacy Week, Virtual.

Hatfield, H. R. (2022, March 3-5). Confronting whiteness in virtual humans [Virtual session]. Center of Excellence for Women & Technology 9th Annual Summit, Bloomington, IN, USA.

SERVICE AND PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

University of South Carolina

Standing Committees

School        

Graduate Council Committee, SJMC (Fall 2024-present)

Professional Development (competitively selected)

PROPEL Research Mentorship Program, NIH Track (2024-2025 cohort)

• Faculty members selected to gain training on federal grant development

Analyzing Race/ism in Interaction: Exploring intersectionality through the lens of conversation analysis and ethnomethodology (2022 cohort)

• Workshop for Selected Emerging Scholars. https://emca4rj.conversationanalysis.org/summer-workshop-2022-how-to-analyze-race-ism-in-interaction/

Professional Affiliations

        International Communication Association (ICA)

        National Communication Association (NCA)

        Association for Education in Journalism & Mass Communication (AEJMC)

        Carolinas Communication Association (CCA)

        American Academy of Advertising (AAA)

Academic Conference Committees

2024-2026: Student and Early Career Representative,  Information Systems Division, International Communication Association

Journal Review Activities

Manuscript Reviewer (Selected List)

Journal of Media Psychology        

Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking

Reviewer for Conferences

        NCA (National Communication Association)

        ICA (International Communication Association)

        AEJMC (Association for Education in Journalism & Mass Communication)

PROFESSIONAL MENTORING EXPERIENCE

Champion for MediaMakers, 2020-current

Center of Excellence for Women & Technology at Indiana University

Graduate Mentor, 2021- 2022

Thrive at Georgia, Division of Academic Enhancement at the University of Georgia

Higher Ed Mentor, 2021-2022

Center of Excellence for Women & Technology at Indiana University

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Graphic Designer/MediaMakers Lead, 2018-2020

Center of Excellence for Women & Technology at Indiana University

Creative Strategist Coordinator, 2015-2018

Office of Research & Economic Development (ORED) at Louisiana State University

FEATURED PRESS

2023: Grady College announces 2023 faculty and staff award recipients. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. https://grady.uga.edu/grady-college-announces-2023-faculty-and-staff- award-recipients/ 

2021: Haley Hatfield wins Top Paper award for research on racial bias in virtual reality. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. https://grady.uga.edu/haley-hatfield-wins-top-paper-award- for-research-on-racial-bias-in-virtual-reality/ 

2017: Inform Through Virtual Reality. Quad: LSU College of Art & Design Magazine, pp. 22-25. https://design.lsu.edu/urban-illusions-inform-virtual-reality/ 

2017: Mecugni, Anna. Q&A with Haley Hatfield. ParseNola.org. https://www.parsenola.org/single-post/2017/07/01/QA-with-Haley-Hatfield

SKILLS

• Virtual and augmented reality

• 360-degree video production

• Psychophysiology

• Adobe Creative Suite 

• Acqknowledge, MediaLab, iMotions

• R and Python

• SPSS, Mplus

• Qualtrics, Prolific

• HTML, CSS, UnityScript

• Unity Game Engine, Roblox Studio

• Maya, Blender, Zbrush, Daz studio

• iOS and Android mobile development

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2017: Urban Illusions: An immersive Documentary Experience, Glassell Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA

2016: Gentrification: Pop-Up at the Wall of Peace, The Grand Theatre, New Orleans, LA

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2019: CEW&T Summit, Urban Illusions, Bloomington, IN

2018: California Open, Urban Illusions, TAG Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

2018: A Conversation on Race & Identity, Urban Illusions, Stockton, CA

2018: Focal Point: The Art of Digital Media, Urban Illusions, Annapolis, MD

2018: ONE YEAR OF RESISTANCE, Urban Illusions, The Untitled Space, New York, NY

2018: FL3TCH3R Exhibit: Socially and Politically Engaged Art, Urban Illusions, Johnson City, TN

2017: 14th Annual 2017 Forum 35 Art Melt, Urban Illusions, Baton Rouge, LA

2017: 4th Annual Southeast Louisiana Juried Student Exhibition, Urban Illusions, New Orleans, LA

2017: FutureFest Redstick Festival, Urban Illusions, Baton Rouge, LA

2017: Divergent Exploration, Urban Illusions, Baton Rouge, LA

2017: LSU Digital Art Students Show, Recovery or Regression, Baton Rouge, LA

2015: Prospect.3+, Star Map, Baton Rouge, LA

2014: BFA Group Exhibition, Self Portrait: 3D Projection, Kansas State University