Professionally
Hi, my name is Johnathan. I am a PhD candidate in the Media School at Indiana University and cofounder of the User Experience Research Lab within the Media School. I've worked incredibly hard to build my reputation in the fields of communication science, user experience research, and sports media. My research has primarily focused on media effects and representation in media.
I am originally from Guntersville, Alabama, a small lake town in Northeast Alabama. I received my BA and MA from the University of Alabama in Journalism with a concentration on sports news and information. It was during my undergraduate program that I was invited by the faculty to be a part of the Accelerated Masters Program at UA, an opportunity that both got me into research and has led me down my current career path.
I'm an avid sports fan, and it's my passion for sport and understanding the role that sport plays in society that has driven much of my research agenda throughout my graduate programs. I believe sport is a fantastic lens to view many different processes and societal issues because of its potential to be a universal language, allowing complex ideas to seem simple and providing a platform to talk about difficult issues.
The biggest thing to know about me is my interest in people. Journalism, Communication, and UX research are very similar in that they all require a type of person who can connect to those around them. You can't survive in any of these fields without being inspired and compassionate towards people, and that's the main drive I have for pursuing my work.
Away from Work and Academia
I'm still Johnathan. Sports are still a big part of who I am and what I enjoy in life. I am huge supporter of Tottenham Hotspur football club. I also follow the Miami Dolphins and love watching college sports. I play pickup soccer or basketball with friends and always appreciate the opportunity to play golf on the weekends.
Away from the sports, I also have some nerdy hobbies. I am a big fan of Magic: the Gathering, particularly playing EDH, though I have been getting more people around me to play my DanDan lists. I am an admirer of other eternal formats, frequently watching creators online, but have yet to dive into them myself.
I have a wonderful wife named Jenna and two cats, Romero (black) and Darcy (grey) that I love dearly. Together, we love to travel, and due to our respective loves of Jane Austen and the Premier League, are always looking for excuses to make a trip to the UK.
That's just about it. If you've made it this far, thank you so much for your time in getting to know me. If you have any questions or would like to reach out to talk about career opportunities, sports, research or anything else, feel free to fill out the contact form below or email me at johnathanstuartanderson@gmail.com.
Thank you!