Ph.D. Candidate
she/her
About
Brianna is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Communication and Media at the University of Michigan. Her dissertation "Shooting on Fifth Avenue: Investigating the Measurement, Facilitation, and Undemocratic Consequences of Parasocial Relationships in U.S. Politics" focuses on the nature and consequences of parasocial relationships in U.S. politics, with an eye towards the role of parasocial connections in accepting political figures' undemocratic actions.
Her other work has explored partisanship and attributions of blame for interparty hostility, the politicization of science and scientists, and the reasons behind non-adoption of pro-social health behaviors in the Covid-19 Pandemic. She is also involved in ongoing research on the efficacy and limitations of interventions meant to shift perceptions of police-involved shootings, as well as research on the implications of generative AI use in surveys.
