Rogelio Alejandro Lopez

Rogelio Alejandro Lopez, PhD (he/him/él), is a scholar and media maker currently serving as an Adjunct Lecturer of Communication at the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California. His academic program affiliations include Communication (BA) and Journalism (BA). Lopez bridges critical theory with media production practice, focusing on social justice, youth civic media, and media activism.

• Educational Background
  • PhD in Communication (University of Southern California)
  • MA in Comparative Media Studies (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

Lopez’s research examines the media practices of youth activists in contemporary social movements, with a focus on how undocumented immigrant youth leverage media for organizing. His expertise spans graphic design, photography, and videography, applied through a social justice lens.

He has collaborated with research centers such as the Center for Civic Media (MIT), Youth and Media at The Berkman Klein Center (Harvard University), The Engagement Lab (Emerson College), Civic Paths, and the Annenberg Innovation Lab. His publications appear in journals like Media and Communication and the edited collection Popular Culture and the Civic Imagination.

Lopez’s interdisciplinary approach connects media production with critical analysis, emphasizing real-world applications for social change. He continues to develop original research while teaching media production to undergraduates at USC Annenberg.