Sungwon Chung

Associate Professor in School of Journalism and Strategic Communication, Assoc Director of School Journalism and Strategic Comm

Phone:765-285-4320

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Room:AJ 397

About Sungwon Chung

Dr. Sungwon Chung is an Associate Director and Associate Professor in the School of Journalism and Strategic Communication at Ball State University. Drawing on media psychology, motivated cognition, and psychophysiology, his research examines how message features and media technologies shape attention, emotion, memory, judgement, and behavior across strategic communication, corporate social responsibility and advocacy, journalism and AI, and emerging media. He is also the founder and lead researcher of the Embodied Media Cognition Lab.

Professional Experience

• Ball State University: Associate Director, School of Journalism and Strategic Communication, 2023-present
• Ball State University: Associate Professor, School of Journalism and Strategic Communication, 2019-present
• Fort Hays State University: Assistant Professor, Department of Communication Studies, 2015-2019

Education

• Ph.D., Mass Communications, Texas Tech University
• Ed.D., Instructional Technology, Texas Tech University
• M.A., Advertising, Michigan State University
• B.A., Dankook University, South Korea

Selected Research and Publications

• Chung, S., Lee, Y., & Sparks, J. V. (2026). Motivated message processing as a mechanism of audience engagement with corporate social advocacy: A study of identity and sociopolitical context. Communication Monographs.
• Lee, S. Y., & Chung, S. (2023). Publics’ views of corporate social advocacy (CSA) initiatives: Exploring prior issue stance, attitude toward a company, and news credibility. Management Communication Quarterly.
• Chung, S., & Lee, S. Y. (2020). Cognitive processing of corporate social responsibility campaign messages: The effects of emotional visuals on memory. Media Psychology.
• Chung, S., & Lee, S. Y. (2019). Visual CSR messages and the effects of emotional valence and arousal on perceived CSR motives, attitude, and behavioral intentions. Communication Research.
• Lee, S. Y., & Chung, S. (2018). Effects of emotional visuals and company–cause fit on memory of CSR information.Public Relations Review.
• Chung, S., & Sparks, J. V. (2016). Motivated processing of peripheral advertising information in video games. Communication Research.
• Sparks, J. V. & Chung, S. (2016). The effects of psychobiological motivational traits on memory of in-game advertising messages. Psychology & Marketing.
• Lee, H., Chung, S., & Lee, W. (2013). Presence in virtual golf simulators: The effects of social presence on perceived enjoyment, perceived value, and behavioral intention. New Media & Society.

Student Mentorship and Recognition

• Faculty Advisor, Washington Media Scholars Foundation National Media Plan Case Competition - mentored teams earning Second Place nationally (2022) and National Finalist recognition (2024).

Honors and Awards

• AEJMC Senior Scholar Grant, 2026
• Jennifer McGill Fellow, AEJMC Institute for Diverse Leadership, 2025-2026
• HIPs Faculty Ambassador, Ball State University, 2025
• CCIM Distinguished Researcher Award, 2024
• Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Awards, Texas Tech University, 2014 and 2016
• Top Paper Award, ICA Information Systems Division, 2013
• Doctoral Dissertation Grant, American Academy of Advertising, 2012