Curriculum Vitae
For a downloadable CV, click here.
Research Focus
My research focuses on mediated cultures, including intercultural communication, peace and conflict studies, and socially networked groups. I look at fan interaction with other fans, with their media and fandom, and with other fans on social media and in person.
In addition to fan studies/popular culture, though, I find documentary studies to be both a complement and counterpoint to popular programming. I’m interested in the impact of documentaries on audiences and how the audience interacts with the documentary and filmmaker. I am fascinated about how nonfiction media can critique and challenge everyday mythology. Combining many of my research interests, my dissertations bridges fan studies and documentary studies to provide a place for a new discussion on audience interaction with filmmakers and introduce the subject to the literature.
Documentary Dialogues: Establishing a Conceptual Framework for Analyzing Documentary Fandom-Filmmaker Social Media Interaction looks at reactions involving nonfiction media producers and fans/audience members enabled by online social media channels. Documentaries are nonfiction programs that seek to inform and persuade audiences to adopt new understandings and to motivate civic action. Their effectiveness depends on how well the producer executes his/her message delivery and how audiences interpret and process their expressions. Social media offers a portal into these dialogues and an opportunity to analyze dialogic indicators of documentary/nonfiction success, which is the focus of this study. Click the word "Dissertation" on the left to read the abstract.
Screen Peace: How Virtual Pacifism and Virtual Nonviolence can Impact Peace Education examines how and why individuals choose to play certain video games nonviolently. It identifies a definition for “virtual pacifist” and argues the phrase known colloquially is actually using the wrong word and should be “virtual nonviolentist.” By looking at media violence and alternate video game play through different educational theories, this thesis strives to change the discussion of media violence specifically in peace education. Click the words "MA Thesis" on the left to read the abstract and full thesis.