Sierra Bray

This concoction is one that may raise an eyebrow at first, but successful recipes often find nuance in seemingly diverse ingredients that—with some bravery—can fuse together into something fulfilling.

The topics that drive my research include organizational culture, workplace dynamics, gender, race, intersectionality, stereotypes, media depictions, computer-mediated communication, the internet, algorithms, and more.

Right now, as a PhD student at USC Annenberg School of Communication, the research topic that keeps me up at night is how women, people of color, and people of other historically marginalized identities navigate and negotiate power in professional settings, particularly in contexts involving digital media and technology.

I have an equal affinity for qualitative and quantitative research. I find that using these methodological approaches in tandem helps to tell a more complete story—and the combo tends to provoke even more questions that keep me up at night. Which, against my sleep schedule's wishes, I appreciate.

(When I'm not wearing my "researcher hat," I'm often cycling, fly-fishing, or tending to my houseplants. Here's a picture near Big Sur, CA—one of my favorite places to enjoy nature.)

I am fortunate to have published and presented my research around the world on topics such as cognitive biases against assertive professional women and working mothers, narratives of women in the software industry, racial and gender stereotypes propagated by animated GIF software algorithms, internet and mobile phone use of homeless populations on Skid Row, and the depiction of women coworkers in media.

Before coming to USC Annenberg, I graduated summa cum laude from the University of Portland with a B.S. in Organizational Communication and Spanish. After getting my degree, I worked for three years in strategic communication, marketing, and business consulting. I advised business owners on strategic initiatives to grow their companies, reach broader audiences, and improve employee engagement.

I am passionate about bridging my professional experience with the tenets of organizational communication, critical/cultural theory, and science and technology studies to promote an applicable, inclusive, and interdisciplinary approach to communication research.