Holly Avella, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor of Media and Communication Studies and a faculty affiliate in the Public Health Research Center at University of Maryland, Baltimore County. With a background in psychology, counseling, and adaptive technologies, her current research focuses on digital mental health and therapeutic platforms, including AI and social media. She has taught a wide variety of courses in media, communication, and psychology. She is the author of Mood Disorder: How Social Media and Therapy Tech are Shaping Mental Health (University of California Press).