Dr. Ashley A. Hinck, PhD

Dr. Ashley Hinck has a PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Rhetoric, Politics, and Culture. She is currently an Associate Professor in the Communication Department at Xavier University. Dr. Hinck teaches courses in digital media, online politics, and fandom. Her research examines how fandom and politics intersect online. Her publications have examined the civic activities of fandoms like Harry Potter, Star Wars, LEGO, Nerdfighters, Supernatural, AFC Wimbledon, and the University of Nebraska Husker football. Her research also considers the digital communication and fans of politicians, including Ted Cruz, Jon Ossoff, Andrew Yang, Donald Trump, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Her book, Politics for the Love of Fandom: Fan-Based Citizenship in a Digital World (LSU Press, 2019) won the Roderick P. Hart Outstanding Book Award from the National Communication Association (NCA) Political Communication Division and tied for the Outstanding Book Award from the Midwest Popular Culture Association (MPCA). Hinck is also co-author of the book Poaching Politics: Online Communication during the 2016 US Presidential Election (2018, Peter Lang). Hinck’s work can be found in academic journals like Critical Studies in Media Communication, Communication Theory, Argumentation & Advocacy, Transformative Works & Cultures, and Communication Education. Hinck has been interviewed by NPR’s 1A, The Washington Post, Buzzfeed News, Vanity Fair, and i24News.