Toni and her mentor Dr. Lemley
Name: Toni Maisano
Major: Communication
Classification: Senior
Hometown: Burnet, TX
Mentor: Lauren Lemley, Department of Communication
What I Study: My research centers around analyzing the rhetoric in books, films, and music. I examine critical messages contained in popular media and look at the broader impact of these messages on society. Recently, I did a rhetorical analysis of the film The Hunger Games which focused on the way the film demonstrated the power of desensitization and the implications this has for our culture.
Why I do research: I love working closely with faculty on projects that aren’t just assignments in class, but are issues and topics that I am genuinely interested in! Also, it’s a lot of fun and provides awesome opportunities for learning outside of the classroom. I also had the chance to travel to Pittsburgh, PA to present my research at a conference–it was a great trip!
Conferences: Toni won an Outstanding Oral Presentation Award at the 2013 ACU Undergraduate Research Festival. She also presented her research at the Eastern Communication Association Convention in Pittsburgh, PA.