Kayti Lausch

Dr. Kayti Lausch serves as Assistant Professor in the School of Film & Photography within Montana State University's College of Arts & Architecture, specializing in evangelical and conservative media through the dual lenses of media industry studies and cultural analysis.

Her academic foundation includes:

• Ph.D. in Film, Television, and Media from University of Michigan (2020)
• M.A. in Radio-Television-Film from University of Texas - Austin (2013)
• B.A. in American Studies from Cornell University (2009)

Her research critically examines conservative media ecosystems, investigating how religious broadcasting networks construct cultural narratives, how mainstream channels like Hallmark negotiate queer representation demands, and how 'positive programming' strategies serve ideological functions. This work consistently bridges textual analysis with industry practice scrutiny.

Recent publications (2020-2024) reveal a cohesive trajectory exploring evangelical media's evolving relationship with mainstream television, appearing in venues like Television & New Media and academic presses. These studies demonstrate methodological rigor in connecting programming decisions to broader sociopolitical contexts, particularly regarding identity politics and commercial imperatives.

Dr. Lausch actively contributes to scholarly discourse as Junior Co-Chair of the Television Studies Scholarly Interest Group (Society for Cinema and Media Studies, 2024-2025). Her teaching in film history and media theory courses provides students with frameworks to analyze media industries' cultural impact, though specific grant funding details aren't documented in available sources.