Biography

I joined IU’s Department of Telecommunications in 2003 (B.S., New York University; M.A., University of Miami (FL), Ph.D., University of California, Santa Barbara). My research and teaching interests include the the nature and effects of sexual messages in the media, Media and sexual socialization, evolutionary psychological explanations for media effects and First Amendment law and policy.  Much of my recent research has focused on the nature and effects of online sexually explicit material.

I aim to undertake empirical research that is intellectually interesting, but which also has practical applications in the non-academic world.  To this end I have undertaken research that has cited by the US Supreme Court in decisions related to the regulation of adult businesses, I have worked with multiple companies in product and message development, and I was recently a Co-producer of the Emmy-nominated documentary Hot Girls Wanted.