I am an assistant professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Memphis. I received my Ph.D. in Communication Studies from The University of Texas at Austin in 2006. I currently teach graduate and undergraduate courses in social/new media, computer-mediated communication and media studies. As a researcher, I’m interested in people’s everyday uses of new technologies, particularly as they relate to discourse structure, participation in online communities, and new forms of media production. I am primarily a qualitative researcher, working from an ethnomethodological perspective, particularly that of conversation analysis.
My recent work includes an exploratory study of independent audio podcasters; a study of anonymity and the discursive management of conflict in an online community done in collaboration with Dr. Kumi Ishii of Western Kentucky University, and a multi-method study of instant messaging conversations conducted with my University of Memphis colleagues Dr. Monica Riordan and Dr. Craig Stewart.
I also have a professional background in public radio and maintain an ongoing interest in modern science fiction audio drama.
You can follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/DiscourseMarker.