Faculty

My research primarily focuses on the intersection between media effects and intergroup processes. Broadly, I look at how media messages influence individuals’ intergroup attitudes and how individuals’ group memberships influence their interpretations of media messages. I am particularly interested in portrayals of race and/or ethnicity in the media and how exposure to these portrayals influences attitudes toward members of other groups.

My research assumes that individuals are rarely exposed to a single representative of a social group in the media. Instead, they are exposed to representatives of different social groups interacting with each other. I examine the effects of exposure to these mediated intergroup interactions on individuals’ evaluations of others.

In addition to my research, I enjoy teaching courses related to media and stereotyping, as well as intergroup processes. In my classes, I encourage students to take an active role in learning the material and to draw connections between the topic at hand and their own lives.