Uma Mba, Amarachi

Amarachi, a Ph.D. student from South-east Nigeria, strongly believes that health outcomes and communication play vital roles in people's lives. She is convinced that many of the world’s challenges can be addressed through effective communication.

Her research focuses on health communication, health misinformation, women's health, and food marketing communication. Before joining the Communication Studies department at West Virginia University, Amarachi earned her B.A. in Mass Communication from Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria. She then pursued her Msc. in Communication Studies, specializing in health communication with a minor in public relations and advertising from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.

With over 8 years of experience in broadcast media and teaching, Amarachi's aspiration to expand her expertise in health communication led her to pursue a Ph.D. degree. She is particularly interested in examining the impact of social media on marketing healthcare products to women using influencers who propagate misinformation through unverified health claims about the products.

Currently, for the Fall 2024 term, she teaches COMM 104: Fundamentals of Public Communication and is a graduate teaching assistant in COMM 306: Organizational Communication.

Outside of her academic pursuits, Amarachi engages in community service, cooking, and rendering services to  the public.

Education:

B.A Mass Communication.

Msc. Communication Studies.