Hayley McCullough

Hayley McCullough serves as an Assistant Professor at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, teaching courses including Film Studies, Social Media & Society, Rhetoric & Video Games, and Methods for Video Game Research. Her office is located in Fitch 105 with office hours held Wednesdays 9am-12pm or by appointment.

Educational background:

• PhD in Communication & Rhetoric, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• MS in Communication & Rhetoric, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• BA in Psychology, University of Montana

Dr. McCullough's research centers on the cyclical relationship between culture and storytelling, with expertise in linguistic evolution of narratives, pop culture-technology intersections, and advocacy through fan-made content. Her work critically examines Fandom Studies, Game Studies, Horror Studies, and Gender/Queer Studies to analyze how cultural contexts shape stories and vice versa. This interdisciplinary approach bridges rhetorical theory with digital media analysis.

Her publication portfolio reveals a consistent methodological focus on integrative complexity across diverse media formats. Recent work analyzes linguistic patterns in video game narratives (Until Dawn), streaming adaptations (One Piece), live-play series (Critical Role), and horror podcasts (The Magnus Archives). She investigates how complexity metrics correlate with perceived quality in award systems (Oscars, Kids' Choice Awards) and explores fanfiction communities (Archive of Our Own) as sites of cultural critique.

Scientific Awards:

• No awards documented in available sources

Advising and Grants:

• Student advising details not specified in public profiles
• No grant information available in current documentation

Labs and Teams:

• No dedicated research labs or teams referenced in institutional materials