Alexander Cho

Alexander Cho is an Assistant Professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, specializing in media studies with a focus on Asian American media, digital inequality, and critical race theory. He holds a Ph.D. in Media Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. His research bridges queer theory, design thinking, and ethnography to explore marginalized communities' use of social media for self-expression and social justice. Cho’s work emphasizes how platform design shapes identity, power dynamics, and digital activism.

Education: Ph.D., Media Studies, University of Texas at Austin; M.A., Media Studies, University of Texas at Austin; B.A., Communication, University of Southern California.

Research Interests: Queer youth of color, digital civic engagement, affect theory, design ethics, and media representation. He has authored/co-authored influential works like The Digital Edge (2018) and co-edited a tumblr book: Platform and Cultures (2020). His peer-reviewed articles address topics such as algorithmic bias, esports education, and platform-driven identity formation.

Cho’s publications demonstrate interdisciplinary reach, spanning HCI conferences (CHI, FDG), media studies journals (New Media & Society), and critical theory presses (MIT Press). His work has been featured in mainstream media like The Wall Street Journal and CBC Radio.

Grants & Advocacy: Lead author of UNICEF’s youth digital civic engagement white paper; contributor to the Connected Learning Alliance. His advocacy includes policy work on youth media literacy and LGBTQIA+ representation in digital spaces.

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams on projects like the Comadre Project (asset-based design for Latinx families) and educational esports initiatives. Previously served as Editor of the LGBTQIA+ newsmagazine Frontiers, securing high-profile interviews like George Takei’s coming-out story.