Maria Novotny

Maria Novotny is an Associate Professor of English at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Her interdisciplinary research focuses on the intersection of reproductive health rhetoric, community-engaged methodologies, and feminist advocacy. She co-directs The ART of Infertility, an organization amplifying narratives of reproductive loss through art and scholarship. Her work emphasizes an ethics of care framework to center marginalized voices in healthcare advocacy.

Educations:

• PhD in Rhetoric and Writing, Michigan State University
• MA in Critical Studies in Literacy and Pedagogy, Michigan State University

Research Interests: Dr. Novotny investigates how rhetoric and writing practices navigate barriers to reproductive care, particularly through community-driven projects. Her scholarship bridges cultural rhetorics, feminist theory, and technical communication to advocate for equitable healthcare practices. Recent work includes a curated collection of fertility narratives, Infertilities, A Curation, and studies on digital surveillance in fertility tracking apps.

Articles Trends: Her publications consistently address reproductive justice, ethical research practices, and coalition-building in healthcare advocacy. Key themes include embodied rhetoric, decolonizing trauma narratives, and participatory methodologies for marginalized communities.

Labs/Teams: Co-founder of The ART of Infertility, contributing to a network of artists, scholars, and clinicians advancing reproductive health advocacy through collaborative projects.