Biography and expertise
Dr. Heidi Makady is an Assistant Professor at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Florida and her Master’s from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She has been immersed in the world of communication as a practitioner for 10 years.
Prior to earning her Ph.D., she worked as an audience development strategist and analyst at AJ+ multilingual channels, where she developed the launch and content strategy for AJ+ Français YouTube and Instagram channels. She drove an organic growth of audience reach and engagement while advising content production teams with performance analyses to drive multi-channel strategies. Dr. Makady has also worked as a news reporter, covering major global events like the United Nations COP-18 Climate Change Conference where she interviewed senior officials, and managed a diverse client portfolio working in the field of PR and advertising. She worked at multiple international advertising firms, including France's Havas Media Group. Her practitioner experience informs both her teaching and research.
Prior to earning her Ph.D., she worked as an audience development strategist and analyst at AJ+ multilingual channels, where she developed the launch and content strategy for AJ+ Français YouTube and Instagram channels. She drove an organic growth of audience reach and engagement while advising content production teams with performance analyses to drive multi-channel strategies. Dr. Makady has also worked as a news reporter, covering major global events like the United Nations COP-18 Climate Change Conference where she interviewed senior officials, and managed a diverse client portfolio working in the field of PR and advertising. She worked at multiple international advertising firms, including France's Havas Media Group. Her practitioner experience informs both her teaching and research.
Education
Doctorate Degree
PhD in Mass Communication
University of Florida, 2023
Master's Degree
MS in Communication
Univ of Louisiana at Lafayette, 2014
Teaching Interests
Research Interests
Featured scholarly/creative works
- Wenger, D., Vera-Phillips, K., & Makady, H. (2026). GenAI Video Tools in News Production and Journalism Education. Journalism & Mass Communication Educator. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1177/10776958261480982
- Chun, S., Nah, S., Makady, H., & McNealy, J. (2024). Understanding User Attitudes Towards AI-Enabled Technologies: An Integrated Model of Self-Efficacy, TAM, and AI Ethics. International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction. https://doi.org/10.1080/10447318.2024.2331858
- Makady, H. (2023). Human, I Know How You Feel: Individual Psychological Determinants Influencing Smartwatch Anthropomorphism. Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41347-023-00351-0
- Makady, H. (2023). To Interact or Not to Interact with News Posts: The Role of Algorithmic Awareness & Self-Monitoring in Facebook News Consumption. E. Electronic News: Broadcast & Mobile Journalism. https://doi.org/10.1177/19312431231166933
- Liy, F., Makady, H., Nah, S., & McNealy, J. (2023). When citizens support AI policies: the moderating roles of AI efficacy on AI news, discussion, and literacy,. Journal of Information Technology & Politics. https://doi.org/10.1080/19331681.2023.2294363
Featured awards
- Award / Honor Recipient: Top Paper Award, AEJMC – Communication Theory & Methods. 2023
- Award / Honor Recipient: Top Student Paper, AEJMC – Broadcast & Mobile Journalism. 2021
- Award / Honor Nominee: Electronic Media Department Nominee for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Scholarly Activities. November 2025 - Present
Featured service activities
- Member
College of Fine Arts and Communication AI Committee
- Member
Coalition of Technology in Behavioral Science
- Reviewer / Referee
REP Grant Proposals (College of Fine Arts & Communication)
- Reviewer / Referee
Journal of Behavior & Information Technology
- Reviewer / Referee
Journal of Policy & Internet
- Reviewer / Referee
New Media & Society