Anna Wiederhold is a doctoral student studying organizational communication at the School of Communication Studies at Ohio University. In addition to her doctoral degree, Anna is pursuing a certificate in Women’s and Gender Studies. She received her B.A. at Georgetown College, Kentucky, double majoring in Communication & Media Studies and Political Science. While at Georgetown College, Anna traveled abroad to complete a term at Oxford University, studying international normative theory. By coupling a communication and media studies curriculum with advanced courses in international relations and political philosophy, she developed a thorough understanding of the issues that characterize the contemporary political environment.
As a doctoral student at Ohio University, Anna’s research has continued to explore these intersections of communication and politics. Specifically, she explores issues of identity construction through engagement with difference and during moments of conflict. Her research interests are rooted in a strong belief that a healthy democracy seeks ways to engage difference with a goal of challenging one another to think more deeply about complex issues. While the phenomenon central to Anna’s scholarly pursuits is fairly specific, her personal interests in issues of gender inequality, education, and community development have situated her research across a variety of contexts. Anna is currently working with her adviser, Dr. Laura Black, to study the communicative processes and civic outcomes of public discussions as demonstrated by the Interactivity Foundation.
