Diana Rios

Diana Rios is an Associate Professor with a joint appointment in the Department of Communication and El Instituto (the Institute of Latina/o, Caribbean, and Latin American Studies) at the University of Connecticut. Her research focuses on media and intercultural communication processes, intersecting with interdisciplinary areas including Chicana/o-Latina/o studies, race/ethnicity, gender, and women’s studies. She previously served as Associate Director and later Director of El Instituto, and holds leadership roles in professional organizations like the Association of Educators in Journalism and Mass Communication and the International Communication Association.

Education: Ph.D., University of Texas-Austin

Teaching: Courses include COMM 4320 (Media and Special Audiences), COMM 4470 (Soap Opera/Telenovela), and COMM 5300 (Mass Communication Theory at the graduate level).

Research: Rios leads the Communication and Social Equity (CASE) Research Lab, exploring how media shape cultural narratives around race, ethnicity, and gender. Her work bridges communication theory with social justice frameworks, emphasizing marginalized communities' representation in media landscapes.

Affiliations: Active in academic leadership roles, contributing to institutional diversity initiatives and scholarly communities. Recognized for her contributions to university and professional organizations.