Shuyang Qu

Shuyang Qu

Position
  • Associate Professor
  • Affiliated faculty member, Sustainable Agriculture Graduate Program
Dr. Qu’s research focuses on agricultural science communication and strategic public engagement. Her work aims to improve perceptions of agricultural science and innovations, and to develop strategies to debunk misinformation. She employs experimental designs to test persuasive messaging strategies and examines media effects using content analysis of media content and audience responses. Her recent scholarship investigates the role of emotions in combating misperceptions around agricultural and life science issues.

Contact

Email
squ@iastate.edu
Phone
515-294-8343
206D Curtiss Hall
513 Farm House Lane
Ames
,
IA
50011-3150
Social Media and Websites

Research Area

Education

  • B.A. English Language and Literature, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan, China, 2009
  • M.S. Journalism and Mass Communication, Iowa State University, 2012
  • Ph.D. Agricultural Communication, University of Florida, 2016

Courses Taught:

  • AGEDS 3110: Presentation & Sales Strategies for Agricultural Audiences
  • AGEDS 2630: Communicate with Impact in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Life Sciences
  • AGEDS 4120: Internship in Agricultural Education and Studies
  • AGEDS 5110: Professional Agricultural Presentation Practices. 

Selected Peer-Reviewed Publications:

  1. Rodriguez, L., Micheletti, K., Qu, S., & Masanbuka-Kanchewa, F. (2026). Too small to be targeted:” Perceived Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities of Small-Scale U.S. Farmers. Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education, 33(1), 17-32. https://newprairiepress.org/jiaee/vol33/iss1/2/
  2. Smith, S., Miller, G., Qu., S. (2026). Importance-Performance Analysis of Beef Consumer Perceptions. Journal of Extension.
  3. Karki, A.*, Qu, S., Masambuka-Kanchewa, F., Retallick, M., Lamm, A., Lamm, K., Sanders, C.E., Byrd, A., & Gabler, N. (2025). Pork Production on YouTube: Frame and Sentiment Analysis. Frontiers in Communication, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2025.1557633
  4. Holt, J., Lamm, A., & Qu, S. (2025). The power of movement: Testing the influence of animating infographics on water conservation information recall. Journal of Agricultural Education, 66 (1). https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.v66i1.65. 
  5. Zhu, L., Wang, Y., Liu, Y., Tan, Z., Ke, S., Hu, N., Qu, S., & Han, G. (2025). Chinese farmers’ low-carbon agricultural technology adoption behavior and its influencing factors. Agriculture, 15(10), 1055. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15101055
  6. Bergquist, E., Buckingham-Schutt, L., Campbell, C. G., Dollisso, A., Qu, S., Tagtow, A. M., & Smalley, S. (2025). Systems thinking and sustainable food systems in dietetics education: A survey of directors. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 125(1), 42-53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2024.06.233
  7. Bergquist, E., Buckingham‐Schutt, L., Smalley, S., Campbell, C. G., Dollisso, A., & Qu, S. (2025). Integrating Systems Thinking in Nutrition and Dietetics Education. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 38(2), e70036. https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.70036
  8. Bergquist, E., Buckingham-Schutt, L., Smalley, S., Campbell, C. G., Dollisso, A., & Qu, S. (2024). Nutrition and dietetics educators’ experiences using systems thinking in teaching. Journal of Dietetic Education, 2(2), 47–62. https://doi.org/10.26890/vykl2341
  9. Shi, H., Han, G., Hu, N., Qu, S., & Zhu, L. (2024). Spatial analysis on resource utilization, environmental consequences and sustainability of rice–crayfish rotation system in Jianghan Plain, China. Agronomy, 14(5), 1071. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14051071
  10. Qu, S., Rodriguez, L., Zhang, W., Li, M., & Cork, E*. (2024). U.S. Midwest farmers’ perspectives about the trade dispute with China: Concerns, claims, solutions, and information needs. Sage Open 14(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440241287997
  11. Qu, S., Rodriguez, L., & Cork, E*. (2024). Media frames and farmers’ support for the U.S. trade dispute with China. The Journal of International Communication, 30(1), 43-61. https://doi.org/10.1080/13216597.2024.2311714 
  12. Taku-Forchu, N.*, Qu, S., Lambert, M. D., Retallick, M. S., & Ulmer, J. D., & Opit, G. P. (2023). Maize farmers’ use, preference, and trustworthiness of information sources and communication channels in Dormaa, Ghana: A gender comparison. Journal of Applied Communications, 107(3), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.4148/1051-0834.2479
  13. Han, G.*, Rodriguez, L., & Qu, S. (2023). American Farmers’ Attitudes toward China and the U.S.–China Trade Dispute: A Mediated Relationship, International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, 1, 1-21 https://doi.org/10.22434/ifamr2022.0171
  14. Li, M., He, S., Zhang, W., Qu, S., Rodriguez, L., Gbeda, & J., M. (2023). Farmers’ reactions to the US-China trade war: Perceptions versus behaviors. Journal of the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association, 2, 386-401. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaa2.68 
  15. Banwart, H*. & Qu, S. (2023). Developing writing self-efficacy: Perspectives from agricultural communications students. Journal of Applied Communications, 107(1), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.4148/1051-0834.2427
  16. Masambuka-Kanchewa, F., Lamm, A. J., & Qu, S. (2022). Exploring the impact of agricultural policies on the documentation and sharing of indigenous knowledge in Sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development. 14(4), 173-283. https://doi:10.5897/JAERD2022.1331 
  17. Bletscher, C., Gould, M*., & Qu, S. (2022). The exploration of undergraduate attitudes and knowledge about international agricultural issues and US agricultural policy. Journal of International Agricultural Extension Education. 29(2), 7-23. https://doi.org/10.4148/2831-5960.1010

Selected Conference Presentations *indicates graduate students mentored by Qu

  1. Baffour-Awuah, D., Lamm, A. J., Byrd, A., Lamm, K. W., Sanders, C. E., Qu, S., Masambuka-Kanchewa, F., & Retallick, M. (2026, February 1-2). Exploring response to scientific messaging about gene-edited pigs using music as a hedonic cue [Conference oral presentation].2026 Annual meeting of the National Agricultural Communications Symposium. Louisville, KY. [Distinguished Paper]
  2. Kandel, G.*, Qu, S., Masambuka-Kanchewa, F., & Rodriguez, L. (October, 2025). Tracing the Origins of Biotech Beliefs: Perspectives from Mothers’ Early and Adult Life Experiences. [Oral Presentation]. North Central AAAE Conference and National Conference on Learner-Centered Teaching, West Lafayette, IN. [Distinguished Manuscript]
  3. Dzinoreva, T.A.*, Qu, S., Masambuka-Kanchewa, F., Retallick, M., Sanders, C.E., Lamm, A.J., Byrd, A., Lamm, K.W. (October, 2025). Draw a Pig Farm”: Understanding Consumer Perspectives of Pork Production Through a Semiotic Lens. [Oral Presentation]. North Central AAAE Conference and National Conference on Learner-Centered Teaching, West Lafayette, IN.
  4. Adhikari, M.*, Qu, S., Masambuka-Kanchewa, F., Retallick, M., Byrd, A., Sanders, C.E., Lamm, A.J., Lamm, K.W. (October, 2025). Encountering Negative Pork Information: A Qualitative Study of U.S. Consumer Communication and Consumption Behaviors. [Oral Presentation]. North Central AAAE Conference and National Conference on Learner-Centered Teaching, West Lafayette, IN.
  5. Adhikari, M.*, Qu, S., Lamm, A.J., Karki, A., Dzinoreva, T.A., Byrd, A., Lamm, K.W., Masambuka-Kanchewa, F., Sanders, C.E., Retallick, M. (April, 2025). Pork Knowledge Gap Among the U.S. Consumers: The Role of Socioeconomic Status and Perception. [Oral Presentation]. Association for International Agricultural and Extension Education, Inverness, Scotland. [Distinguished Oral Presentation]
  6. Karki, A.*, Qu, S., Masambuka-Kanchewa, F., Retallick, M., Sanders, C., Lamm, A.J., Lamm, K. (2024, October). Pork Production on YouTube: Frame and Sentiment Analysis. [Oral Presentation]. North Central AAAE Conference and National Conference on Learner-Centered Teaching, Tulsa, OK. [Distinguished Manuscript]