Stephanie Williams-Turkowski

Stephanie Williams-Turkowski is a Lecturer in the Journalism & Creative Media Industries department at Texas Tech University's College of Media & Communication. Her research explores the intersection of fan culture, media aesthetics, and tourism through interdisciplinary methodologies. She holds a Ph.D. from Texas Tech University, an M.A. in Communication, and a B.A. in Mass Communication from West Texas A&M University.

• Education:
  • Ph.D. - Texas Tech University
  • M.A. Communication - West Texas A&M University
  • B.A. Mass Communication - West Texas A&M University

Her work critically examines fan assemblages and their influence on media production, focusing on how fan communities shape corporate strategies and cultural narratives. Additional research interests include television and film aesthetics, audience perception of reality, and media tourism in theme parks and immersive environments. She investigates affective landscapes and their role in post-pandemic media consumption.

Key publications include analyses of Disneyland fan culture, interactive role-playing at Evermore Park, and digital magazine strategies on platforms like Snapchat. Her teaching emphasizes multimedia journalism, visual storytelling, and media literacy through courses such as Global Journalism Issues, Visual Storytelling, and Publication Design.

• Scientific Awards:
  • Top Paper in the Graduate Student Rhetorical Criticism Panel - Texas Speech and Communication
  • Best Video (Greater Than 2 Minutes) – Honorable Mention (AP Managing Editors Association of Texas)
  • Formby Mayes Research Fellowship
  • J.T. and Margaret Talkington Scholarship
  • Helen DeVitt Jones Mass Communication Scholarship