Our Faculty

Mark A. Flynn

Assistant Professor of Communication & Media Studies, Department of English

Contact Information

617-732-1677

Office Hours

Office: Administration Building, Room 434-C

Office hours: Mondays and Wednesdays, 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Education

Ph.D., Bowling Green State University; M.A., University of Rhode Island; B.A., Roger Williams University

Bio

I joined the English Department at Emmanuel College as an Assistant Professor with an emphasis in Media and Communication. I received a BA in Communications from Roger Williams University, an MA in Communication Studies from the University of Rhode Island, and a PhD in Media and Communication from Bowling Green State University.

My areas of teaching and research specialization include media literacy, media representations & effects, new/social media, body image and objectification, gender, stigmatized men's health issues, social norms, and strategic communication and health campaigns.

Some of my personal interests and hobbies include photography, traveling, and cooking. I also have a love of outdoor adventures, from hiking and climbing, to biking and paddling. My wife and I recently welcomed our first child, and we are excited to bring her on our future adventures.

What I Love About Emmanuel

I love the energy that students bring into the classroom. It is clear that Emmanuel students are eager to learn and possess a contagious level of intellectual curiosity. I consistently find myself leaving the classroom feeling inspired.

Courses I Teach

  • ENGL 1502 Introduction to Media and Communication Studies
  • ENGL 2521 Public Relations and Persuasion
  • ENGL 2523 Introduction to Advertising
  • ENGL 3708 Digital Culture

Publications and Presentations

Publications

  • Craig, C.M., Flynn, M.A., Holody, K.J., & Anderson, C.N. (In Press). Name dropping and product mentions: Branding in popular music lyrics. Journal of Promotion Management.
  • Stana, A., & Flynn, M. A. (In Press). Battling the stigma: Combat veterans' use of social support in an online PTSD forum. International Journal of Men's Health.
  • Holody, K. J., Anderson, C., Flynn, M. A., & Craig, C. (2016). Drunk in love: The portrayal of risk behavior in music lyrics. Journal of Health Communication, 21, 1098-1106.
  • Craig, C.M., Ngondo, P. S. & Flynn, M.A. (2016). How firm is your digital handshake?: Mission Statements & Transparency. Public Relations Review, 42, 692-694.
  • Flynn, M. A., Craig, C., Anderson, C., & Holody, K. J. (2016). Objectification in popular music lyrics: An examination of gender and genre differences. Sex Roles, 75, 164-176.
  • Flynn, M.A. (2016). The effects of body ideal profile pictures and friends' comments on social network site users' body image. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, & Social Networking, 19, 239-245.
  • Flynn, M. A., & Carter, E. (2015). Curriculum infusion of the social norms approach: Information only vs. service learning. Communication Education.
  • Flynn, M. A., Morin, D., Park, S., & Stana, A. (2015). Let's get this party started!: An analysis of health risk behavior on MTV reality television shows. Journal of Health Communication, 20, 1382-1390.
  • Flynn, M. A., Park, S., Morin, D., & Stana, A. (2015). Anything but real: Body idealization and objectification of MTV docusoap characters. Sex Roles, 72 173-182.
  • Park, S., Flynn, M. A., Stana, A., Morin, D., & Yun G. (2015). From Laguna Beach to Jersey Shore: A content analysis of minority characters on popular MTV reality shows. Howard Journal of Communication, 26, 381-402.
  • Morin, D., Flynn, M. A. (2014). We are the Tea Party!: The use of Facebook as an online political forum for the construction and maintenance of in-group identification. Communication Quarterly, 62, 115-133.
  • Flynn, M.A. & Stana, A. (2012). Social support in a men's online eating disorder forum. International Journal of Men's Health, 11(2).

Grants and Recognition

2016 - Advisor of the Year, Coastal Carolina University
2015 - Student Advocate of the Year, Student Government Association, Coastal Carolina University
2014 - Student Affairs Division Award, Coastal Carolina University
2011 - Graduate Excellence Award, School of Media and Communication, Bowling Green State University
2007 - Graduate Teaching Excellence Award, University of Rhode Island

Research Focus

I have primarily focused on two complementary areas of health communication research: media content and its potential influence on health attitudes and behavior; and strategic communication to impact health outcomes. In researching these areas, I have explored women's and men's body image and objectification, risky health behaviors such as drinking and smoking, social norms, and stigmatized men's health issues. I have investigated these topics in a variety of media contexts, including television, magazines, music lyrics, and social media.

This research has also led me to explore strategic communication messages and health campaign efficacy. I have designed and implemented multiple strategic health campaigns on the topics of media literacy, body image, eating disorders and high risk drinking. These campaigns have allowed me, with great pleasure, to collaborate with colleagues in student affairs and a nonprofit organization focusing on mental health and disordered eating behavior.

My most recent research focuses on body image and disordered eating behavior in social media contexts.

Academics