Polly Straub-Cook, MA

Polly Straub-Cook is a PhD candidate at the University of Washington in the Department of Communication. She studies how political identity is formed in mediated discussions of current events online, how science denial is related to political identity, and how media content is leveraged in online political discussions. Prior to returning to academic life, Polly earned a bachelor's degree in Journalism from the University of Washington and worked in community news for a decade as a reporter and a news editor. She currently works part time as a publicist in the blues music industry. Polly also is herself a lifelong professional blues musician and directs a small non-profit in Nicaragua that supports basic education for rural farm communities.