ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ

Barikisu Issaka hails from Ghana and was born and raised in Mallam, a suburb of Accra. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Information Studies with a minor in Psychology from the University of Ghana, Legon. She later pursued her Master of Science in Journalism and Mass Communications at Kansas State University and recently completed her Ph.D. in Information and Media at Michigan State University.

She has taught a range of public relations and advertising courses at both Kansas State University and Michigan State University. Her research focuses on the beneficial and adverse effects of persuasive messages disseminated through digital and social media on health behaviors, with an emphasis on their application to campaign strategies for underserved communities. Her work has been supported by several fellowships and grants, including the prestigious American Association of University Women (AAUW) International Fellowship.

In addition to her research, she has extensive professional experience in digital media management and public relations. She has served as a PR officer for various organizations, including the Zurak Cancer Foundation in both Ghana and the U.S. She is also a content creator and influencer, managing her own YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn platforms, with followings of 35.7K, 40K, and 9K respectively. Over the years, she has collaborated with brands such as Yesoul Bike (California) and Halp Educational Consult (Canada).