Linda Gallant

With a professional background in user experience design, Dr. Linda Gallant understands how the design of databases, algorithms, user interfaces, apps, and social media platforms engage and impact individuals, audiences, communities, governments, and organizations in multiple contexts—healthcare, politics, marketplaces, government, and workplaces. Central to her work is how digital communication persuades individual users, audiences, and communities to change attitudes and behaviors as well as getting people to act (i.e., buy, vote, donate, comment, post, join, recommend, etc). This knowledge of user engagement theory and practice can be applied in online strategic communication campaigns for brands, advocacy organizations, government agencies, and politicians.

In research and teaching, Gallant explores how a technology designs influence online user engagement in advocacy, consumerism, healthcare, privacy, politics, citizenship, and disinformation. She advocates storytelling as a powerful persuasive tool, especially in social media. As a storyteller, she has placed as a semifinalist in the Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards and a quarterfinalist in the ScreenCraft Drama Competition.

Gallant has also been published in Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, American Behavioral Scientist, e-Service Journal, Management Communication Quarterly, Communication Reports, tripleC: Communication, Capitalism; Critique, Personal and Ubiquitous Computing, Qualitative Research Reports in Communication, First Monday, and The International Encyclopedia of Media Literacy.