Social Media Victimization - Theories and Impacts of Cyberpunishment

Jessica Emami is a sociologist and author with expertise in Iranian antisemitism, civic engagement, and technology. She is  the author of Social Media Victimization -Theories and Impacts of Cyberpunishment (Lexington Books, December 2022) and adjunct professorial lecturer of sociology at the American University in Washington, D.C. Using theories of radicalization, extremism and terrorism, Dr. Emami analyzes the processes that drive people to punish others using social media, and the effects of digital media on socio political conflict.

Jessica is also Research Fellow at the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy (ISGAP), where she is focusing on the antisemitism embedded in the writings, speeches, and political activities of the Supreme leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollahs Khomeini and Khamenei.

Jessica obtained her PhD in Sociology from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia (GMU), preceded by a MA from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. (CUA), and a BS in Computer and Information Science from the University of Maryland, Global Campus. 

Dr. Emami was a Research Fellow at the GMU Institute for Immigration Research, where she was co-investigator for the 2013 and 2014 National Survey of Iranian Americans.

Born in Tehran to an Iranian father and Italian mother, Dr. Emami is fluent in Farsi (Persian) and English, and conversant in Italian and Spanish.