Student Achievements

Communication Alum Accepted into the University of Iowa

June 06, 2022

Communication Alum Accepted into the University of Iowa

GVSU alum from the Master of Science in Communication program, Brittany Bahl, will be continuing her education towards a Ph.D. in Communication Studies at the University of Iowa.

Bahl has presented outstanding work throughout her graduate studies at GVSU. She was previously featured in November’s Student Success Story for presenting one of her papers at a conference for the Midwest Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association (MPCA/ACA). She also presented her thesis at the annual GVSU 3-Minute Thesis Competition and at the annual Graduate Showcase. Bahl’s thesis covered rhetorical analysis of toxic depictions in film, focusing on toxic rhetorics within three popular film franchises: (1) toxic masculinity in Coming to America and Coming 2 America; (2) toxic femininity in Bad Moms; and (3) straightwashing as a more toxic form of heteronormativity in Wonder Woman and Wonder Woman 1984. Her thesis also rewarded her with the Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award for the Winter 2022 Graduate School Citations for Academic Excellence.

Bahl has since graduated in the Winter 2022 term. She plans to continue her studies at the University of Iowa’s Communication Ph.D. program in the Fall semester of 2022.

“I am deeply interested in continuing to explore toxic rhetorics, such as toxic positivity, and how rhetorics of empathy might be used as an antidote to help mitigate the harmful effects of toxic rhetoric,” said Bahl.

Congratulations, Brittany! We are honored to be a part of your academic journey!

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Page last modified June 6, 2022