Brittney Grotz

Brittney Grotz graduated in the Spring of 2024 with a Master's in Communication Studies. Despite the demanding nature of her graduate program, Brittney valued the opportunity to delve deeply into research while gaining experience teaching freshman students. She found great fulfillment in the classroom, where she could not only share her knowledge with a diverse group of intelligent students but also provide the same support that had been pivotal in her own academic journey.

Throughout her Master's program, every class required Brittney to produce a conference-style research, exposing her to various areas within communication studies. "Every semester, I was creating research experiments, testing, and proving theories through different methodologies..." she explained. This hands-on approach, including the mentorship of her faculty advisors broadened her understanding of communication studies and illuminated the potential for interdisciplinary research. Brittney acknowledges that communication studies can be underestimated as a research focused major, noting "All communication studies research grapple with a myriad of social questions, like 'How is the media that I am intaking impacting my life? How is my brain filling the representational gaps through perceptions I am seeing in the media?' or 'How do societal discourses influence my relationships? Health? Politics? The list goes on and on!'"

Brittney's thesis explored how implicit expressions of colorblind racism were portrayed in Season 4 of the American reality show, Love is Blind, and consquently how fans discussed race when discussing the show. Her analysis revealed that the show deliberately and carefully avoided displaying discussions surrounding race, and fans who brought up the topic about race on social media were immediately met with hostility from fellow viewers. Through her study, Brittney gained valuable insight into how race-related topics are communicated and negotiated through modern media and how these communication tactics are being perceived by the Love is Blind audience.

As Brittney advances in her academic career, she has begun to pursue her PhD in Communication Studies at Arizona State University. She states, "I do feel it is because I was in this program that I was able to feel prepared and excited to answer all of my various research questions"

Whether Brittney is studying reality television, mass or new media, or health communication, she brings a keen analytical perspective to each subject. Her current research interests regard health equity and its implications of diverse representation in the medical field, especially given the ongoing legal suits that are challenging the efforts to increase diversity in healthcare. Britney's dedication to exploring complex social environments and her passion for teaching will inspire future generations of students to explore interdisciplinary studies and drive her continued success as a scholar and educator.

Vanessa Alejos - Program Coordinator