Yuan Nan
Ph.D. Student and Graduate Assistant
Yuan Nan is a Ph.D. student and graduate assistant at the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications. Her research focuses on children, youth, and media in the digital era, with particular interests in social media, artificial intelligence, virtual influencers, and emerging forms of digital communication.
She holds a Ph.D. in Management and has published scholarly work and presented her research at national and international conferences. She also serves as a mentor in the International Research Society for Children’s Literature (IRSCL) Mentoring Programme (2024–present) and as a reviewer for journals including the Journal of Interactive Advertising, Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics and Young Consumers.
Awards and Honors
Top Special Topics Paper Award, Advertising Division, AEJMC Annual Conference, 2026
Top Open Research Paper Award, Second Place, Advertising Division, AEJMC Annual Conference, 2026
Webtoon Emerging Scholar Award, Advertising Division, AEJMC Annual Conference, 2026
Honorable Mention, American Academy of Advertising (AAA) 2026 Dunn Award
Education
Visiting Scholar, Children’s and Adolescent Literature, University of Florida
Ph.D., Management, Ocean University of China
M.A., Children’s literature, Ocean University of China
B.A., Journalism, Ocean University of China
News
- UFCJC faculty and graduate students to present and receive awards at the 2026 AEJMC Conference (August 3, 2026)
- UFCJC faculty and graduate students recognized at 2026 AEJMC Conference (May 21, 2026)
- All News About Yuan Nan →
Publications
Books
Nan, Y. (2021). A study of China’s children’s book publishing industry based on industrial organization theory. Beijing Yanshan Press.
Refereed Journal Articles
Nan, Y., & Chen, H. (2026). How knowledge comics go viral: adoption pathways, social media promotion and framing strategies in Chinese publishing market. Journal of Graphic Novels and Comics, 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1080/21504857.2026.2667481
Chen, H., Wang, Y., Falik, S., McNealy, J., Nan, Y., Yang, Q., & Perpich, E. (2026). Mass shooting narratives on social media: Content moderation, algorithmic influence, and participatory discourse. New Media & Society. https://doi.org/10.1177/14614448261449813
Hu, Y., & Nan, Y. (2025). The reframing of biographical literature for contemporary Chinese children: Multimodal narratives, diverse role models, and market reception. Strenæ: Recherches sur les livres et objets culturels de l’enfance, (27). https://doi.org/10.4000/15jui
Nan, Y., & Chen, H. (2025). Continuous “Planting a seed of interest”: Children’s book marketing strategies on Xiaohongshu. Young Consumers, 26(1), 61-78. https://doi.org/10.1108/yc-05-2024-2079
Nan, Y. (2008). Postmodern culture and children’s literature. Journal of Shandong University of Science and Technology (Social Sciences Edition), 12, 346–347.
Book Chapters
Nan, Y., & Hu, Y. (2026). Transmedia magic and controversy containment: Navigating global tensions locally in Harry Potter’s Chinese reception. In Potions, powers, and prejudice.
Nan, Y. (2022). The creative expression of Chinese original picture books. In Exploration of theories on original picture books: Proceedings of the national symposium on the theoretical construction and critical standards of original picture books (pp. 315–326). Heilongjiang Education Publishing House.
Conference Presentations
Nan, Y., Zuo, X., & Chen, H. (2026). “Authentic innovation or corporate shortcut? How consumers interpret AI-generated advertising.” Paper presented at the 2026 AEJMC Annual Conference, Advertising Division, New Orleans, LA. Top Special Topics Paper Award.
Nan, Y., & Chen, H. (2026). “Fit, value, and character integrity: How audiences evaluate anime-like virtual influencer endorsements.” Paper presented at the 2026 AEJMC Annual Conference, Advertising Division, New Orleans, LA. Top Open Research Paper Award, Second Place.
Nan, Y., Chen, H., & Chu, H. (2026). Virtual girls, real boundaries: Gender exploration and boundary work among Chinese youth fans of anime-like virtual influencers. Paper presented at the 2026 AEJMC Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.
Nan, Y. (2026). Transmedia storytelling in AI-saturated media environments: A conceptual explication. Paper presented at the 2026 AEJMC Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.
Chen, H., Nan, Y., Wei, X., & Gundam, B. (2026). Detecting manipulative influencer advertising targeting teens: A human–AI multimodal analysis. Paper presented at the 2026 AEJMC Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.
Lee, Y., Chen, H., Sutherland, A., Nan, Y., & Zuo, X. (2026). Hispanic/Latino teen boys’ perceptions of ethnic cues in safe driving public service announcement. Paper presented at the 2026 AEJMC Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.
Chen, H., Nan, Y., & Olinick, S. (2026). Too real or too fake? How teens interpret manipulative influencer advertising. Paper presented at the AAA 2026 annual conference, Austin, TX.
Chen, H., Nan, Y., Olinick, S., & Huang, Z. (2026). Virtual voices, real insights: Evaluating advertising through human and AI-simulated focus groups. Paper presented at the AAA 2026 annual conference, Austin, TX.
Nan, Y. (2025). Re-explicating transmedia storytelling in the age of artificial intelligence: Concepts, boundaries, and shared storyworld coherence. Paper presented at AEJMC Southeast Colloquium, Tampa, FL.
Nan, Y., Chen, H., & Chu, H. (2025). Belonging and recognition: Anime-like virtual influencers and youth gender exploration. Paper presented at AEJMC Southeast Colloquium, Tampa, FL.
Nan, Y., Chen, H., & Perpich, E. (2025). Reimagining belonging on rednote: Cross-cultural social media migration and media dependency. Paper presented at AEJMC 2025 Annual Conference, San Francisco, CA.
Nan, Y., & Chen, H. (2025). The untarnished image: Consumer perceptions of anime-like virtual influencers and their endorsement. Paper presented at ICORIA 2025 conference, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Nan, Y. (2025). Artificial intelligence and children’s digital culture: Effects on reading, education, and creativity. Paper presented at the Children’s Literature Association Annual 2025 Conference (virtual).
Nan, Y. (2024). Text and context: Strategies and struggles of children’s literature translation in China. Paper presented at the 2024 PAMLA Annual Conference, Palm Springs, CA.
Nan, Y., & Chen, H. (2024). From social media communication to market success: The diffusion of knowledge comics in China. Paper presented at the 2024 FCA Annual Conference (virtual).
Nan, Y., & Hu, Y. (2024). A cross-cultural communication perspective: The emergence and development of “children’s literature” concepts in China under American influence in the early 20th century. Paper presented at the 5th International Children’s Literature Symposium, Qingdao, China.
Nan, Y. (2024). Seeking direction amid turbulence: The current status and challenges of China’s children’s book publishing industry. Paper presented at the 51st Children’s Literature Association Annual Conference, Madison, WI.
Nan, Y. (2024). Children’s knowledge comics in China: Seeking balance in development. Paper presented at the 20th Annual Conference on Comics and Graphic Novels, Gainesville, FL.