معرفی
Catherine Brooks serves as Professor and Interim Dean of the College of Information Science at the University of Arizona, having previously held leadership roles as associate director (2016-2018) and director (2019-2023). She founded the Center for Digital Society and Data Studies, establishing herself as a key institutional leader in digital society research.
Her academic foundation includes a PhD from the University of California, positioning her at the intersection of communication theory and information science.
Research Interests
Dr. Brooks investigates day-to-day language use in social contexts with emphasis on instructional communication technologies, online collaboration dynamics, and language-identity relationships. Her work examines how digital environments facilitate co-construction of knowledge, relationships, and identities while exploring science communication challenges. This inherently interdisciplinary research bridges communication studies, information science, and sociology through mixed-methods approaches.
Publication Trends
Recent scholarship reveals evolving focus from classroom communication (2018) to contemporary societal-technological intersections. Her 2022-2024 work increasingly addresses environmental media narratives (Arizona mining, energy transition), emerging technology ethics (quantum computing, deepfakes), and digital governance (student data privacy, algorithmic bias), demonstrating responsive engagement with urgent socio-technical dilemmas.
Research Infrastructure
As founder of the Center for Digital Society and Data Studies, she cultivates interdisciplinary collaboration examining digital technology's societal impact. This hub supports research on media discourse, data ethics, and communication innovation while connecting academic work with public discourse through outlets like Scientific American and Wired.
