Dr. Tegan R. Bratcher

Tegan Bratcher, Ph.D. (she/her) is a professional media researcher and a professor of media and public relations. Dr. Bratcher is passionate about media research and using research to create real change in the media industry.

As a Roy H. Park Doctoral Fellow at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill she studied media and communication, becoming an expert in the areas of race and communication, public relations, digital media, podcasts and more. Before then, she studied political science at West Virginia University earning both her bachelor’s and master’s degree.

Dr. Bratcher’s work and teaching has been recognized for numerous awards and she has authored/co-authored several publications in peer reviewed journals. Dr. Bratcher’s current work examines the new media from a myriad of perspectives, specifically, investigating the ways that podcasts (and other digital media at large) are used for community, strategic and social communication, and identity. Currently, Dr. Bratcher is co-editing an anthology on Diverse Podcasting (forthcoming 2024), writing a chapter for a 2027 forthcoming text celebrating the bicentennial of the Black Press, and penning her on manuscript entitled, Black Power, Black Podcasts.

In addition to academic research, Dr. Bratcher’s role as a Senior Researcher for the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media —which won the Governor’s Award at the 2022 Emmys— emphasizes her commitment to professional media research and progressive industry change. Dr. Bratcher has also served as a historical researcher for the Smithsonian Institution’s National American History Museum, in Washington, D.C. Dr. Bratcher has worked as a consultant for media research, development, representation and DEI.

In industry, Tegan is known for being a skilled researcher and excellent communicator whether speaking at international conferences or teaching students in the classrooms, or writing for academic journals. Tegan excels in communicating various research and information. She has demonstrated expertise in the communication, media, public relations, and history fields. 

In her spare time, Tegan enjoys traveling, reading, shopping, and spending time with loved ones.