Andrea M McDonnell

Andrea M McDonnell is an Associate Professor of Communications and Director of the Communications Minor at Providence College. She holds a Ph.D. in Communication Studies from the University of Michigan (2012), a Master's in Museum Studies (2010), and a B.A. in American Culture from Vassar College (2005). Her work focuses on celebrity culture, political communication, gender studies, and media rhetoric. Key research areas include the intersection of celebrity gossip magazines with political discourse, parasocial interaction in media, and gendered language in political contexts. McDonnell has authored/co-authored influential books such as *A Gossip Politic* (2023) and *Celebrity: A History of Fame* (2019), and her articles explore topics like Trump/Clinton discourse on Twitter, parasocial dynamics in conservative/liberal media (Hannity/Maddow shows), and rhetorical strategies in celebrity misconduct cases. She actively reviews scholarly works on media history and cultural studies.

• Education:
• Ph.D. Communication Studies, University of Michigan (2012)
• Museum Studies, University of Michigan (2010)
• B.A. American Culture, Vassar College (2005)
• Research Focus:
• Celebrity Culture & Politics
• Gendered Media Discourse
• Political Rhetoric
• Para-Social Media Engagement
• Recent Trends in Work:
• Analysis of post-truth politics through celebrity gossip
• Exploration of Twitter's role in presidential debates
• Critical studies of celebrity discourse in sexual misconduct cases