Damilola Ayeni

Damilola is an instructor in the University of Niagara Falls Canada’s Master of Arts in Digital Media and Global Communications program, with a strong record of excellence in higher education teaching, research, and industry engagement. She brings over six years of academic experience from leading Australian universities, contributing to curriculum development, unit coordination, and high-quality teaching across undergraduate and postgraduate programs in diverse, multicultural learning environments.

Her academic leadership centres on designing future-focused curriculum that bridges theory, research, and global industry practice. Damilola’s teaching spans media studies, advertising, public relations, and science communication, with a focus on critical inquiry, ethical communication, and professional readiness. She is recognised for embedding inclusive pedagogy and international perspectives into learning experiences that are both intellectually rigorous and socially responsive.

Damilola holds a PhD in Media and Communication. Her research explores how digital communities shape public beliefs, behaviours, and health communication during periods of crisis and uncertainty. Her work gained prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic through innovative methods for analyzing online discourse, resulting in peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and high-impact public scholarship, including contributions to The Conversation Australia.

Across her academic appointments, Damilola has consistently achieved strong student outcomes and positive peer review. She is deeply committed to mentoring students and early-career academics, supporting the development of advanced communication, critical analysis, and industry-aligned professional skills.

Programs / Courses taught

Foundation of Digital Media, Digital Media Entrepreneurship, Interactive Communications, International Advertising, Intercultural Communication, Research Methods in Digital Media and Communications, Artificial Intelligence for Media, Digital Storytelling and Brands

Areas of academic interest

Regulation of AI, algorithms, and misinformation on social media platforms, health communication and public trust, social media and platform affordances, media studies

Areas of specialization

Misinformation and health communication, social media research and digital platforms, intercultural and multicultural public relations strategy

Awards

• Swinburne University Postgraduate Research Award for Doctoral Research (2020-2024)

Publications

Selected publications

• Ayeni, D., Bossio, D., & Barnet, B. (2022). A researcher asked COVID anti-vaxxers how they avoid Facebook moderation. Here’s what they found. The Conversation. 
  https://theconversation.com/a-researcher-asked-covid-anti-vaxxers-how-they-avoid-facebook-moderation-heres-what-they-found-186406 
• Ayeni, O. B. (2021). Branding and marketing Nigerian churches on social media. In S. Appau (Ed.), Marketing Brands in Africa (Palgrave Studies of Marketing in Emerging Economies). Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-77204-8_6 
• Ayeni, O. (2018). The dynamics of the circuit of culture model in promoting Angelina Jolie’s humanitarian activities. Studies in Media and Communication, 6(2), 12–19. https://doi.org/10.11114/smc.v6i2.3493 
• Ayeni, O. (2023). How Australian Facebook users negotiate the platform’s affordances in vaccine communication. PhD thesis, Swinburne University of Technology.  http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/475597 

Radio and Podcast Interviews

• Ayeni, D. (2024). Facebook and vaccine communication. Interview by Damien O’Meara, HASSCast. Duration: 25 min 32 sec. https://linktr.ee/swinhasscast?lt_utm_source=lt_share_link#368036387 
• Ayeni, D. (2022). Interview on The Score, RRR (24 August 2022), discussing The Conversation research. https://www.rrr.org.au/shared/broadcast-episode/21672/2135000/3297000 

Conference presentations

• Ayeni, D. (2024). Reactive Affordances on Facebook: Exploring the Impact of Facebook Policies on Vaccine Communication in Online Communities during a Global Pandemic. 
  Paper presented at the Digital Intimacies Conference, Melbourne Australia. 
• Ayeni, D. (2021). How do online actors navigate Facebook to communicate about childhood vaccination? Paper presented at the ANZCA Conference, Swinburne University. 
• Ayeni, D. (2020). Facebook affordances and online actors’ techniques influencing childhood vaccination communication in Australia: A comparative case study approach. Paper presented at the Faculty of Health, Arts and Design HDR Conference.