Chelsea Julian Reynolds

Chelsea Julian Reynolds is an Associate Professor at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University (ASU), where she also serves as Director of the ASU California Center. She holds a PhD in Mass Communication from the University of Minnesota (2017), an MA in Journalism from the University of Missouri (2012), and a BA in Magazine Journalism and English from Iowa State University (2008). Her research focuses on sexual communication, LGBTQ+ media representation, and media discourse analysis, with a particular interest in how media shapes perceptions of marginalized communities and intersects with law, policy, and mental health. Reynolds is a recognized leader in qualitative research methods and has published widely in top-tier journals like Journal of Communication Inquiry and Communication, Culture & Critique.

Her current roles include vice-chair of the AEJMC Publications Committee and incoming head of the AEJMC Commission on the Status of the LGBTQ+ Community. She has authored a textbook on sexual communication and been honored with the Mary Ann Yodelis Smith Award for Feminist Scholarship. Reynolds also chairs the Critical Media Studies Research Cluster and teaches courses on race, gender, and media. Her work bridges academic scholarship with practical journalism initiatives, including advising faculty and students on media-community relationships and leading projects like the special issue on mental health in journalism. Her advocacy extends to adult industry media and LGBTQ+ advocacy, reflecting her commitment to media's role in fostering social understanding.

Reynolds previously worked in magazine journalism at Men's Health and Better Homes and Gardens, and held roles at the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality and the Association of Health Care Journalists. She is actively involved in editorial boards and award judging, including for the Shaufler Prize in Journalism. Her research and community engagement demonstrate a dedication to ethical journalism, media equity, and interdisciplinary collaboration.