Jimmy Draper

Jimmy Draper is a Lecturer III and Director of the Senior Thesis & Honors Program at the University of Michigan's College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA), with a faculty appointment in the Department of Communication and Media. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan and received the 2024 LSA Individual Award for Outstanding Contributions to Undergraduate Education.

His research explores critical media analysis through several interdisciplinary domains:

• Fashion media and cultural representation
• Media industry structures and power dynamics
• Pop culture and identity politics
• Fandom communities and participatory culture
• Critical/cultural methodologies

Draper's publications demonstrate consistent focus on media representation of gender, sexuality, and identity across various platforms. His recent work examines celebrity labor, digital self-presentation strategies, and queer media reception. The collective scholarship reveals sophisticated engagement with cultural theory applied to contemporary media landscapes.

He has received significant recognition including the 2024 LSA Individual Award for Outstanding Contributions to Undergraduate Education. As Director of the Senior Thesis & Honors Program, Draper oversees undergraduate research initiatives and advises students in advanced scholarly projects within communication and media studies.