About Stewart

I am a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Michigan. My research examines the way media depictions evoke prejudice and stereotypes, shape and activate identity, and influence political behavior. More specifically, I study how images and coded language affect our perception of social issues. I am interested in how individual biases and media production practices shape mass media content production, and how mass media content creators can be educated about the effects of their work.

As a long-time practitioner, I ask the question, how can media effects research be leveraged by mass media content creators to produce content with a socially conscious eye?

Prior to joining the University of Michigan, I served for 10 years in the U.S. Marine Corps as a public affairs officer, and I have a background in public relations, advertising, and multimedia design.