Position Title
PhD Candidate
Research Focus
Camren Allen is a PhD Candidate in the Department of Communication at UC Davis. He earned his B.A. in Communication summa cum laude in 2020 and his M.A. in Communication in March 2025. His research examines how messages that use gender stereotypes can influence individuals’ behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs. Using experimental, computational, and neurophysiological approaches—including EEG—he investigates the mechanisms underlying stereotype effects. Camren is also interested in virtual reality technologies as a tool for studying and designing immersive educational experiences. His work advances Stereotype Threat theory in communication research, with the broader goal of improving the ethical and effective use of visual messages in health communication strategies.
- BA in Communication from the University of California, Davis (2020)
- Dean's Distinguished Graduate Fellowship (2023-24)
- Allen, C. L., Montes, E., Hoang, T., Romo, T., Peña, J., & Navarro, J. (2023). Can Stereotype Threat and Lift Visual Messages Affect Subsequent Physical Activity? Evidence from a Controlled Experiment using Accelerometers. Health Communication. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2023.2277573