Opeyemi Adeola Lawal

A communication professor who strives to teach course information and build students' lifelong skills. Creates a vibrant teaching atmosphere and supports students through consistency, openness, and transparency. An engaged educator maintains the highest standards of classroom instruction. Passionate professional with excellent presentation, research, and communication skills. Organized and driven with an impressive list of achievements and a history of excelling in high-pressure environments. Skilled at applying various learning methods and tools to optimize student experience and academic journey.

• Thomas Jay Harris Endowed Graduate Fellowship, 2023-2025
• C.R. Hutcheson Endowed Graduate Fellowship, 2023-2025
• The C. H. Foundation Graduate Fellowship, 2023-2025
• CoMC Graduate Fellowship, 2023-2025
• Cross-Disciplinary Research Methods Course Scholarship, Spring 2025
• 1st Place, Texas Council on Family Relations Graduate Content Poster, 2024
• Graduate Travel Award, 2024

• Lubbock Dream Center, Volunteer, 2024-present
• Texas Tech Graduate School, Judge, Texas Tech Graduate School Poster Competition, Spring 2024
• Texas Tech Graduate School, Judge, Texas Tech Undergraduate Research Competition, Spring 2025
• Texas Tech University, Moderator, Intersectional Feminism Session at the 41st Annual All-University Conference, Spring 2025

• Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, 2025-present
• National Communication Association, 2024-present
• The International Marce Society for Perinatal Mental Health, 2023-present

My research focuses on health communication strategies to address critical public health issues, including perinatal mental health, breastfeeding, and suicide prevention. I investigate how communication campaigns/media messages can promote help-seeking behavior for perinatal mental health, improve public perceptions of breastfeeding, and reduce suicide contagion through adherence to ethical reporting guidelines. Utilizing interdisciplinary methodologies, including both qualitative and quantitative approaches, I aim to identify effective messaging techniques and assess their real-world impact. My work bridges the gap between research and practice, providing policymakers, healthcare providers, and media professionals with actionable insights. Ultimately, I aim to improve public health outcomes by promoting positive behavioral changes and reducing stigma surrounding sensitive health topics.

Panelist at the Global Launch of The Lancet-World Psychiatric Association Commission: Time for United Action on depression, 2020.

Rediscovering You. Maternal Mental Health: Understanding and Acting, 2024

Teaching Effectiveness and Career Enhancement

Phi Kappa Phi

National Society of Leadership & Success

· MD Goni, A., Oruche, R. Uddin, M., Lawal, O. A. Prasad, C. & Kerk, K. (2023). User Competence Metrics for Cyberinfrastructure: The case of KNOW COVID-19 Science Gateway; Accepted and presented at the Metrics Conference, Denver, Colorado. (National Science Foundation Funded)

· Lawal, O. A. & Thomas-Jackson, S. (2024): Identifying Breastfeeding Behaviors in the Media; Accepted and Presented at the Texas Council for Family Relations Conference, Lubbock, Texas. 1st Place -Texas Council on Family Relations Graduate Student Content Poster (2024).

· Edmund, E., Lawal, O. A. & Schiffecker, S (2024). Hashtags & Health: A Comparative Study on the Perception of Health Misinformation Using Social Media among College Students from Ghana and the United States. Accepted and Presented at the Kentucky Conference on Health Communication, Lexington, Kentucky.

· Lawal, Opeyemi A. (2024). The influence of exposure to direct-to-consumer advertising of antidepressants on knowledge and beliefs of perinatal depression. Accepted and Presented at the National Communication Association Conference, New Orleans.

· MD Goni, A., Oruche, R. Uddin, M., Lawal, O. A. Prasad, C. & Kerk, K. (2024). User Competence Metrics for Cyberinfrastructure: The case of KNOW COVID-19 Science Gateway; Accepted and presented at the Science Gateway Conference, Boseman. (National Science Foundation-funded project).

· Lawal, Opeyemi. A. (2024). HBM: Influence of knowledge and beliefs on health information seeking among perinatal women. Accepted and Presented at the 2024 Arts & Humanities Conference, Texas Tech University.

· Lawal, O. A. & Thomas-Jackson, S. (2025). Media representation and discourse of breastfeeding: A scoping review. Accepted and presented at the Women’s and Gender Studies 41stAll-University Annual Conference, Lubbock, Texas.

· Lawal, Opeyemi A. (2025). Assessment of the WHO Suicide Media Coverage Recommended Guidelines and existing Journalistic Practices: A Diffusion of Innovations Perspective. Accepted and Presented at the 2nd Diffusion Research Symposium 2025, Texas Tech University.

· Lawal, Opeyemi A. & Sternadori, M. (2025). News Location Origin and Platform Type as Factors in Adherence to Suicide Reporting Guidelines among Nigerian Journalists. Accepted and to be presented at the AEJMC 2025 Conference in San Fransico.

National Communication Association

Spring 2024

· Conference paper reviewer for Health Communication Division

· Conference papers reviewer for Feminist and Gender Studies Division

Spring 2025

· Conference paper reviewer for Feminist and Gender Studies Division

Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC)

Spring, 2025

· Conference paper reviewer for the Newspaper and Online News Division (NOND).