Cody Hays

Cody Hays is a Ph.D. student at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. As a Graduate Research Fellow in the MIDaS Lab, their work explores the intersections of media psychology, public understanding of science, and efforts to combat misinformation in the digital age. They are also a member of the Views and Values Lab, where they investigate how values and worldviews shape people’s selection and processing of climate change information. In addition, Cody is an Affiliated Scholar at the Center for Media & Communities and serves as Executive Editor of the Journal of Public Interest Communications, where they co-supervise dissemination of peer-reviewed research and collaborate with a global network of practitioners.

Cody holds a Master of Arts in Mass Communication with a focus on Digital Strategy from the University of Florida and a Bachelor of Science in Career and Technical Education from Northern Arizona University. Their academic interests include climate communications and strategic messaging, focusing on mobilizing climate action among individuals who identify slightly right of center. Their teaching experience includes faculty roles at Arizona State University and the University of Florida, where he has developed and taught courses on social media strategy, copywriting, and search engine optimization (SEO).

Beyond academia, Cody is the founder of Marketing Mission, where he has helped nonprofit organizations design and execute campaigns that have collectively raised $17 million to advance social change. With over a decade of experience as a nonprofit marketing strategist, Cody has partnered with more than 30 nonprofits to streamline their marketing efforts and help their teams reclaim valuable time. They specializes in supporting climate-focused nonprofit leaders—founders, executive directors, and fundraisers—who face challenges such as overwhelm, burnout, and high turnover, offering strategies to achieve impactful and sustainable results.

Cody’s research and professional achievements have earned numerous accolades, underscoring his impact in the field. They played a key role in securing a prestigious Knight Foundation grant for Miami Waterkeeper and has been recognized by platforms like RivalIQ and Givebutter for his innovative digital campaigns. Notable accomplishments include ranking #1 for social media engagement and earning a nomination for Campaign of the Year for his work with the Children of Armenia Fund.

When not immersed in research or teaching, Cody enjoys exploring hiking trails and spending time with his two cats, Marigold and Magnolia.