Thu “Panda” Dang
Ph.D.
Thu Dang is a Ph.D. student in Communication at the University of Florida. Her research focuses on media psychology, intercultural communication, and emerging digital culture. Thu is especially interested in exploring perspectives from Southeast Asia and other underrepresented groups. She examines how communication and technology influence identity, foster social connections, and create shared meaning across different cultures. Motivated by a desire to unite academia, she aims to connect communication studies between Vietnam and the United States.
Before joining UF, Thu earned her M.A. in Communication Studies at the University of Texas at Arlington, where she serves as a Graduate Research Assistant, graduating with a 4.0 GPA and completing a thesis on self-presentation and social expectations uncertainty across cultural contexts. She also holds a B.A. in Public Relations with a concentration in Journalism and Communication from Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance, where she graduated as valedictorian with the highest GPA in the university’s history. Beyond academia, she gained professional experience at communication agencies, Ho Chi Minh Television, and Arlington Sentinel News, which deepened her understanding of how theory applies to practice in the media industry.
Thu’s work has been published in peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, and presentations at national and international conferences. She has received multiple research awards, including the Danny Woodward Scholarship for Communication Excellence and the Bobbitt Endowment Award. Additionally, she has been recognized as an RAB Student Scholar at the BEA Conference.
When she is not engaged in research, you can usually find Thu rescuing plush toys from claw machines (50 and counting), playing with puppies, or watching K-dramas.
Education
B.A., Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance, 2018
International Exchange Student, Arizona State University, 2018
M.A., The University of Texas at Arlington, 2025
News
Research
media psychology, intercultural communication, and emerging digital culture
media psychology, intercultural communication, and emerging digital culture