Heidi Rae Cooley

Dr. Heidi Rae Cooley is an Associate Professor of Arts, Technology and Emerging Communication at the University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas), affiliated with the Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology. Her work bridges media theory, critical studies, and transdisciplinary collaboration, focusing on mobile technologies, surveillance, and semiotic frameworks rooted in Charles Sanders Peirce's philosophy. She holds a PhD in Critical Studies from USC and has been recognized with the Anne Friedberg Innovative Scholarship Award (2015) for her book Finding Augusta.

Education:

• PhD - Critical Studies, University of Southern California (2007)
• MA - Visual Studies, University of California, Irvine (2003)
• MA - English/Comparative Literature, California State University, Fullerton (1995)
• BA - English & Spanish Minor, California State University, Fullerton (1992)

Research Interests:

• Media Theory: Mobile technologies, tracking, and sentient environments
• Philosophy: Peircean semiotics and habit formation
• Documentary Practice: Essay film, self-documentation, and indexicality
• Visual Studies: Tactile visuality and image dissemination

Awards & Projects:

• Ward One App: Award-winning project addressing historical erasure in Columbia, SC
• CampusKoi: Research platform exploring technology and community engagement
• Recipient of NEH grants for interactive history projects like Reconstruction 360

Advising & Grants:

• Co-founder and editor of the Interactive Film and Media Journal
• Contributor to The Edge media project
• Collaborations with institutions like South Carolina Educational Television

Labs/Teams:

• Lead researcher on transdisciplinary projects merging technology and humanities
• Member of the Interactive Film & Media Research Network