Associate Professor
865-974-4291
Associate Professor Mustafa Oz has been at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, since 2020. His research focuses on social media, political communication, and emerging technologies, with a particular emphasis on how digital platforms shape political engagement, activism, and public discourse.
His work examines online incivility, privacy perceptions, and how individuals and groups use social media for political participation and activism, with a strong focus on marginalized communities and global perspectives, including the MENA region. More recently, his research explores the role of artificial intelligence in communication, particularly how AI intersects with activism, public discourse, and digital participation.
Oz’s work has been published in leading academic journals, including New Media & Society, First Monday, and Mediterranean Politics. He also serves as the head of the Communication Technology Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC).
He teaches courses in social media journalism, audience research, and data communication. Since 2024, he has been the faculty leader of the semester-long Spain study abroad program, where students gain hands-on experience through internships, industry visits, and cultural immersion.
Education
- PhD, Journalism, University of Texas at Austin, 2018
- MA, Political Communication, University of Texas at Austin, 2013
- BA, Radio, TV and Cinema, Ege University, 2011
Research Interests
- Social media
- Political communication
- Digital activism
- Online incivility
- Artificial intelligence (AI)