Sarah Projansky

Sarah Projansky is a Professor of Film & Media Arts and Gender Studies at the University of Utah, with an adjunct appointment in Communication. She currently serves as Vice Provost for Faculty & Academic Affairs, overseeing faculty development, policy liaison between the Academic Senate and administration, and cross-campus initiatives. Previously, she was Senior Associate Dean for Faculty & Academic Affairs in the College of Fine Arts (2013–2018). Her academic career spans interdisciplinary research in cultural studies, media representation, and gender studies.

Projansky holds a PhD in Film Studies from the University of Iowa (1995), an MA (1990), and a BA in Psychology-Sociology and Film from Wesleyan University (1987). Her scholarly work examines gender, race, and sexuality in media, with a focus on transmedia narratives and participatory cultures. Notable publications include Spectacular Girls: Media Fascination and Celebrity Culture (2014) and Watching Rape: Film and Television in Postfeminist Culture (2001), both award-winning works.

Her research interests extend to celebrity studies, girlhood in media, and feminist critiques of popular culture. Recent articles address topics like Title IX’s feminist logics, racialized portrayals of athletic girlhood, and queer African American girlhood in media. Projansky has led projects such as a campus-wide initiative on celebrity culture and co-chaired the Women’s Caucus of the Society for Cinema and Media Studies. She is a founding board member of the Women’s Institute for Independent Social Enquiry (WIISE).

As an educator, Projansky teaches courses like Celebrity, Media Franchises, and Gender and Contemporary Issues. She has advised numerous graduate students and directed undergraduate honors theses, emphasizing mentorship in academia. Her work bridges scholarly research, institutional leadership, and progressive social engagement.