GRADUATE RESEARCHER

McKenna earned a B.S. in marine biology from San Diego State University before a career as a park ranger with the National Park Service and US Forest Service. She then earned a Master's of Professional Communication degree from Weber State University and quickly fell in love with the art and science of science communication. She is now pursuing a Ph.D. in Communication and Media Studies from the University of Oregon. Her research interests include science, environment, health, and risk communication and the role misinformation plays in how the public perceives, and makes decisions about, politicized scientific issues such as climate change.