M. Laeeq Khan, Ph.D.
- Associate Professor the School of Media Arts & Studies
- Director of the Social Media Analytics Research Team (SMART) Lab
Areas of Expertise
- Analytics
- Communication
- Digital Divide
- Digital Divide in Rural Appalachia
- Digital Engagement
- Digital Identity
- Digital Innovation
- Digital Media
- Fake News and Spread of Misinformation
- Social Marketing
- Social Media
- Social Media Analytics
- Social Media Literacy
Expert Bio
Dr. Laeeq Khan is a tenured associate professor, director of Graduate Studies for the Ph.D. and MA programs, and founding director of the Social Media Analytics Research Team (SMART) Lab at Ohio University's Scripps College of Communication. He is an internationally recognized expert on how data, analytics, and AI are reshaping media, marketing and strategic communication.
Dr. Khan's research decodes audience behavior on platforms including YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and X to inform effective social media strategy and brand engagement. His work has examined crisis and health communication extensively, including public health messaging and misinformation dynamics more broadly.
A central focus of his current research is the ethical adoption of generative AI in marketing, education, and public discourse, including how organizations can use AI tools responsibly while addressing risks such as misinformation and eroding trust. He also studies digital inequality, having led recognized work on the digital divide in Appalachian Ohio.
Dr. Khan is the author of The Data Analytics Advantage: Strategies and Insights to Understand Social Media Audiences (Oxford University Press, 2025) and Editor-in-Chief of the Social Media in Society & Culture series from Oxford University Press, where he leads an international editorial board across 10 thematic sections.
His research has produced over 60 peer-reviewed publications and has been featured in outlets including USA Today, NPR, The Hill, and Automotive News. He has delivered more than 30 invited talks and keynotes across North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
- He is available to provide expert commentary on:
- Social media trends and algorithm changes
- Generative AI's impact on marketing, PR, and education
- Measuring engagement and ROI in digital campaigns
- Crisis and reputation management during a pandemic or public health event
- Efforts to combat online misinformation
- The digital divide and its impact on rural and underserved communities
Dr. Khan holds a Ph.D. in Media & Information Studies from Michigan State University and an MBA in Marketing from Murray State University.