Dr. Cindy Conaway earned her Ph.D. in American Culture Studies with a focus on Media and Film at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. She also holds a Master's Degree in Instructional Systems Design from Florida State University, and a BA in English Language and Literature from the University of Chicago. She studies primarily television, but also other media such as movies and social media. Her work has primarily focused on smart, talented, and socially-connected girls in teen television. These days, however, she is working on a Digital Humanities project, primarily surrounding the show Seinfeld.

She is the Associate Department Chair for Communication, Media Studies & Cultural Studies and Coordinator of Interdisciplinary Studies as well as teaching Media Studies.

Degrees

  • Ph.D in American Culture Studies from Bowling Green State University
  • Master of Science in Instructional Systems Design from Florida State University
  • Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature from University of Chicago

Publications

  • Book (in Progress) “Seinfeld at The Nexus of the Universe: Using IMDb Data and Social Network Theory to Create a Digital Humanities Project” (with Diane Shichtman)
  • Seinfeld at the Nexus of the Universe Project-- “90-95% of All People Are Undate-able!”: Digital Humanities, IMDb, and Seinfeld. Scholars Across the College presentation to various locations at SUNY Empire State College. February 13, 2019. (With Diane Shichtman.); Using IMDb as a Dataset for Digital Humanities. Workshop for NYCDH—New York City Digital Humanities Week. February 6, 2019. (With Diane Shichtman); "Seinfeld at The Nexus of the Universe: IMDb, Media Studies, and Digital Humanities Research." Invited speaker for Emory Department of Film and Media Studies' Friday Lunchtime Speaker Series. January 25, 2019. (With Diane Shichtman); Seinfeld’s place in Television History for course in History of American Television, Emory University. November 19, 2018; “Seinfeld at The Nexus of the Universe: Using IMDb Data and Social Network Theory to Create a Digital Humanities Project.” DH2018. Mexico City. MX. June 24-30, 2018.; “The Main Reason You Watch TV is Because it Ends”: Seinfeld, Digital Humanities and TV Genres. Popular Culture Association. Indianapolis, IN. March 28-31, 2018.
  • “Growth and Its Discontents: Organizational Challenges to a Radical Vision” in book titled Principles, Practices, and Contradictions: One Progressive Institution’s Struggle to Name and Sustain its Vision.Jelly, Katherine and Alan Mandell. With Christopher Whann.
  • Why hasn’t the success of The Colbert Report led to high ratings for Colbert’s The Late Show? August 22, 2016. ScreenPrism (Peer reviewed online magazine). http://screenprism.com/insights/article/why-hasnt-the-late-show-achieved-the-colbert-reports-high-ratings
  • “Why Can’t Teen Shows Handle the Transition to College?” June 15, 2016. ScreenPrism (Peer reviewed online magazine). http://screenprism.com/insights/article/why-cant-teen-dramas-handle-the-transition-to-college
  • “Why is The Americans so Complicated?” May 10, 2016. ScreenPrism (Peer reviewed online magazine). http://screenprism.com/insights/article/why-is-the-americans-so-complicated
  • "Review of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”. Fall Premieres 2015: CBS & The CW. Antenna. September 22, 2015. (Peer reviewed online magazine from University of Wisconsin).http://blog.commarts.wisc.edu/2015/09/22/fall-premieres-2015-cbs-the-cw/