Biography

Dr. Olivia Deneige Cohen (Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University, 2026) is an Assistant Professor of Instruction in the Department of Communication at Temple University. Drawing on social scientific perspectives, her research and teaching focus on the intersection of health, science, and environmental communication, with an emphasis on persuasion and civic engagement. She examines how media and communication shape public understanding, interest, and action around pressing health, scientific, and environmental issues.

Dr. Cohen is also an Honors Affiliated Faculty member, where she teaches community-engaged courses that connect students with the city of Philadelphia. One such course, Green Spaces and the Third Place, explores the role of third spaces in fostering connection and placemaking, and examines how urban green spaces can support human, environmental, and community well-being. This work reflects her broader commitment to connecting theory to practice, cultivating community-minded leaders, and fostering a meaningful learning environment.

In her spare time, she enjoys weightlifting and Pilates, taking advantage of Philadelphia’s live music scene, and tending to her garden—with the occasional assistance from her two cats, Sassafras and Magnolia.