Esther Thorson has been at the School of Journalism at Missouri for six years. Before that she was professor and director of graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin for l0 years. Her doctorate is in psychology from the University of Minnesota. At Missouri, Thorson directed the Center for Advanced Social Research for four years, in addition to serving as Associate Dean, a position she continues to hold. Thorson does research on public health advertising and promotion, the impact of news and advertising on audiences, and the role of ethnicity in news. She co-edited "Assessing Public Journalism" which appeared in 1998, and she and David Schumann co-edited "Interactive Advertising" which will appear in 1999. Thorson has held research grants and contracts with Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Kansas Health Foundation, Ford Foundation, Pew Charitable Trusts, California Wellness Foundation, among others. Thorson has directed the doctoral work of 25 students.

 

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