Elizabeth Rodwell

Elizabeth Rodwell is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Comparative Cultural Studies at the University of Houston's College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. Her academic work bridges media anthropology, user experience (UX) research, and artificial intelligence (AI) studies. She holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology from Rice University, alongside advanced degrees in Social Sciences (University of Chicago), Media Studies (New School University), and a B.A. in New Media Theory from Brown University.

• Education:
  • Ph.D., Anthropology - Rice University
  • M.A., Social Sciences - University of Chicago
  • M.A., Media Studies - New School University
  • B.A., New Media Theory - Brown University

Rodwell's research investigates the intersection of media technologies, audience engagement, and cultural dynamics. Her forthcoming book, Push the Button: Interactive Television and Collaborative Journalism in Japan, explores post-Fukushima tensions in Japanese media industries, focusing on how interactive television redefines participation and journalistic accountability. She also examines AI and machine learning through the lens of usability, collaborating with researchers in the U.S. and Japan to analyze human-like interaction design.

Rodwell's publications highlight themes such as media anthropology, UX, AI ethics, and digital cultures. Her work spans topics like Artificial Love (AI/AR chatbots), The Time of Laughter (comedy in media), and critiques of interactive broadcasting in Japan. Projects include feminist digital humanities initiatives and analyses of trolling behaviors in Japanese internet spaces.

She has also contributed to discussions on pedagogy, emphasizing the development of UX research programs and critical approaches to digital tools in education. Her collaborations with industry professionals underscore the global dimensions of AI design and user-centered practices.