Dustin M Harp

Dr. Dustin M Harp is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), affiliated with the College of Liberal Arts. She holds a PhD in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, an MA in Journalism from UT Austin, and a BA in English and Journalism from Sonoma State University. Prior to academia, she worked as a journalist covering city government and education. Dr. Harp served as Director of UTA’s Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies program from 2018 to 2024.

• Research Focus: Intersection of women/gender, journalism, digital media, and power dynamics
• Key Publications: Includes Gender in the 2016 US Presidential Campaign (2019), Desperately Seeking Women Readers (2011), and edited volumes like Feminist Approaches to Media Theory and Research (2018)
• Teaching: Courses on public affairs reporting, data journalism, and Race, Gender, and Media

Her research examines how media shapes gender norms, particularly in political contexts, and how digital platforms both empower and marginalize voices. She has received over 30 awards for research, teaching, and service, including recognition from the AEJMC Commission on the Status of Women. Dr. Harp leads interdisciplinary initiatives like the RUG Project (funded by Rockefeller Brothers Fund) and has secured grants totaling $3.3 million for diversity and equity programs.

Service Contributions: Chair of GWSS Advisory Board, CoLA Curriculum Committee member, and advocate for LGBTQ+ and DEI initiatives. She has advised numerous graduate students and mentored faculty across disciplines.