Raffi Sarkissian is the TA/RA Representative for the Annenberg Communication Graduate Student Associatioin (ACGSA)

Year: Fourth; ABD

Hometown: Santa Monica, CA

Undergraduate/Graduate Institutions: UCLA, 2009 (BA in Communication Studies and Sociology); USC, 2012 (MA in Critical Studies)

Research Area: My areas of research include cultural and critical studies, queer media studies, studying representations and intersections of gender, race, class, and sexuality in broadcast and digital media.

Dissertation Topic: My dissertation project investigates the queer politics and ambivalence in popular LGBT media culture, including representation and reception of award shows, Proposition 8 media, and online campaigns like It Gets Better.

Publications and presentations while at USC Annenberg: I’ve published in Spectator on LGBT representation at award shows and have a book chapter in Queer Youth and Media Cultures on the queer conventions of the television show Glee. I’ve also presented at SCMS, Console-ing Passions, PCA, and NCA while at USC Annenberg.

Student Research Groups/Extracurricular Involvement: I am part of the Civic Paths research group. I am also President of the Gay and Lesbian Armenian Society (GALAS), an L.A.-based non-profit organization.

Twitter: @rsark

Favorite thing about USC Annenberg: The opportunity to work and collaborate with a wide range of peers, faculty, and other folks both in and outside of Annenberg.