Sahara Byrne
Dean
Professional Biography
Sahara Byrne is interested in why strategic messages that are designed with good intentions sometimes have the opposite effect. She studies message disruption processes and a theoretical construct known as “noise.” Her work takes a developmental approach, focusing on why children and adolescents sometimes resist messages with pro-social intentions. Her research aims to explain why this “boomerang effect” is likely to occur in response to many types of strategic messages, especially those that are policy driven and pro-social, such as government-imposed health campaigns. She also examines deliberate attempts to disrupt message effects, such as efforts to prevent negative impacts of the media on children.
Sahara Byrne received her B.F.A in Film and Television from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, and her M.A. and Ph.D. in Communication from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Degree(s)
2007 Ph.D. in Communication from University of California, Santa Barbara
Cognate Emphasis: Media Psychology/Cognitive Development
K. Kyoon Hur Dissertation Award, International Communication Association, Mass Communication Division. 2009. Chicago, Illinois.
Outstanding Dissertation of the Year, International Communication Association. Instructional & Developmental Communication Division. 2008. Montreal, Quebec.
2004 M.A. in Communication from University of California, Santa Barbara
Concentrations: Children and Media, Media Literacy
1993 B.F.A. in Film and Television Production from New York University, Tisch School of the Arts
Emphasis: Screenwriting and Producing
Faculty Commencement Award for Excellence in Screenwriting, Tisch School of the Arts
Awards
2022 Top paper in Health Communication Division, Greiner Safi, A., Kalaji, M.*, Avery R., Mathios A., Dorf, M., Byrne, S, Niederdeppe, J. (May 2022). Examining Perceptions of Uncertain Language in Potential E-Cigarette Warning Labels: Results from 16 Focus Groups with Adult Tobacco Users and Youth. 72nd Annual International Communication Association Conference. Paris, France.
2018 Spring ISS Fellowship Award, Competitive Selection. Cornell University Institute for Social Science.
2017 Donald C. Burgett Distinguished Advisor Award. Awarded to one faculty member selected by the Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences senior class of 2017.
2016 Carpenter Advising Award. Awarded to one Cornell University faculty member annually for outstanding undergraduate advising.
2013 State University of New York Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. Awarded to one Cornell University faculty member annually for excellence in teaching in NY State.
2012 Innovative Teaching Award. Cornell University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Awarded to one faculty member annually for innovative teaching practices.
2012 Merrill Presidential Scholar Teaching Impact. Each Cornell Merrill Scholar (top 1% of graduates) identifies the faculty member with the most impact on their scholarship while at Cornell. Student: Jenna Tauber.
2011 Faculty Honoree with Distinction. Cornell University Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs.
2011 Merrill Presidential Scholar Teaching Impact. Each Cornell Merrill Scholar (top 1% of graduates) identifies the faculty member with the most impact on their scholarship while at Cornell. Student: Elise Jacobs.
2009 K. Kyoon Hur Dissertation Award. International Communication Association, Mass Communication Division. Chicago Illinois.
2009 Applied Consumer Economics Award. The Unintended Consequences of Disclosure: Explicit Sponsor Identification and the Cognitive Processing of Smoking Cessation Ads. Presented by the American Council on Consumer Interests.
2009 Young Faculty Teaching Excellence Award. Cornell University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Awarded to one faculty member annually.
2009 Faculty Honoree. Cornell University Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs.
2008 Outstanding Dissertation of the Year. International Communication Association. Instructional and Developmental Communication Division. Montreal, Quebec.
