Carolyn Cocca

Carolyn Cocca is a Professor in the Department of Politics, Economics & Law at the State University of New York College at Old Westbury, part of the School of Arts and Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. from New York University (2000), an M.A. from the same institution (1997), and a B.A. from Fordham University (1993). Her research focuses on gender, sexuality, and law; civil liberties and rights; and the politics of comics. Cocca is the author of influential works such as Superwomen: Gender, Power, and Representation (2016), which won the 2017 Eisner Award, and Jailbait: The Politics of Statutory Rape Laws in the United States (2004). Her articles explore topics like superhero portrayals, feminist disability theories, and digital media literacy's role in civic engagement. She teaches courses including 'The Politics of Comics' and 'Constitutional Law and Politics.'

Her awards include the 2017 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award and the 2017 Prose Award for Media & Cultural Studies. Cocca’s work bridges academic scholarship with popular culture, critically analyzing representations of gender and power in media and law.