I Saw it On... FIG Instructor and Assistant

 Hello! My name is Dr. Nikki McClaran, and I am a professor in the School of Journalism and Communication, where I teach public relations and research health communication. My life was fundamentally changed after watching Criminal Minds… yes, the TV show! Since then, I have been driven to understand when, why, and how entertainment media influence people’s real-world decisions and behaviors.

I specifically study these questions in health contexts, such as how learning about mental health on social media influences users’ optimism toward treatment or how audiences learn about vaccinations through medical dramas. Drawing on my background in nonprofit communication, my research also explores how health issues can be communicated strategically in ways that are both educational and engaging. In this work, I have collaborated with teams across the globe on issues such as gender-based violence, heat-related illnesses, sleep, vaccinations, and mental health. As a teacher, I teach a wide range of courses within the public relations sequence at the SOJC, from our 200-person introductory course to upper-level classes.

Email: nikkim@uoregon.edu

Hi! I'm Emeline (she/her/hers), and I'm the 2026 FIG Assistant for "I Saw It On..." I was in a FIG during my first year and found that it made my transition to college life so much easier. It was nice to meet so many people early on that I had something in common with. I’m originally from Tampa, FL, but I’ve moved around a couple of times. 

This fall, I'll be a senior, getting my B.S. in Cinema Studies, with a minor in Planning, Public Policy, and Management. I'm very interested in how the media that we watch (and more specifically, the characters that we might see ourselves in) can impact our perceptions of the world around us, so I'm incredibly excited to be involved with this FIG! 

As far as my individual hobbies go, I love watching movies!!!! I’m a very avid Letterboxd user, and I'm at the theater as much as possible. I love listening to music and going to concerts, too. Some of my favorite artists are Royel Otis, sombr, Role Model, Harry Styles, and Tim Atlas...though, as fall rolls around, I'll be back listening to The Smiths and Clairo. I also love (almost) every sport, playing Video Games, and hanging out with my French Bulldog, Charlie. 

I can't wait to meet and work with all of you. I hope to learn as much from you as you do from me :)

Want to connect with your FA? Email figs@uoregon.edu to get connected!