Margaret Tully

Dr. Margaret “Meg” Elizabeth Tully (1987–2023) was an Assistant Professor of Communication Studies at Belmont University, joining the faculty in 2022. She held a BA in Communication Studies from Belmont (2011), an MA from Ball State University, and a PhD in Communication Studies from the University of Iowa (with a certificate in Women’s and Sexuality Studies). Her research focused on intersections of gender, comedy, and postfeminist culture, as evidenced by her dissertation “Trainwreck Feminism: Women, Comedy and Postfeministic Culture” and publications in Women’s Studies in Communication and Critical Studies in Media Communication.

• B.A., Belmont University (2011)
• M.A., Ball State University
• Ph.D., University of Iowa (2016–2020)

Her teaching emphasized social justice, with courses like Rhetoric of Social Movements, Gender and Communication, and interdisciplinary studies on Women, Comedy, and Social Change. Colleagues praised her as intellectually rigorous yet deeply kind, with a vibrant classroom presence. Meg’s legacy includes her commitment to social justice and her humanity, remembered by the Belmont community for her humor, optimism, and intellectual passion.

Her awards reflect scholarly excellence, including top paper recognitions at the National Communication Association’s conferences. Meg’s work bridged academic rigor and cultural critique, focusing on how humor and media shape gender discourse.

Though no grants or labs were explicitly detailed, her courses and research indicate engagement with interdisciplinary teams and community-focused scholarship. Meg is survived by her husband Brian Woody, mother Sue Trout (a Belmont English professor), siblings Kate and Chris, and a wide network of academic and personal collaborators.