Profile for Heather Gahler
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Heather Gahler
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers or They/Them/Theirs
Teaching Assistant Professor
Communication Studies
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Heather Gahler Pronouns: She/Her/Hers or They/Them/Theirs
Teaching Assistant Professor
Communication Studies
Specialty area(s)
Heather Gahler is a PhD candidate and media effects scholar, working on the effects of social media on body image among diverse populations. She is interested in understanding how social media influences perceptions of body image among different racial/ethnic groups, among gender minorities, and within the LGBTQ+ community. She is interested in understanding how body size influences intergroup communication as well.
Brief biography
Heather Gahler's research has focused on how Instagram influences body image differently depending on one's racial/ethnic group and the racial/ethnic group of one's followers. Her recent publications have appeared in Body Image, Computers in Human Behavior, and Psychology of Popular Media. Ms. Gahler has focused on cultivating critical thinking, active learning, and diverse viewpoints within the classroom. She has taught classes on children and media, the history of media effects, research methods, and public speaking, among others.
Current courses at UWL
CST 110- Communicating Effectively
Education
- Master of Arts in Communication from University of Arizona
- Bachelor's of Arts in Journalism and Public Relations from Westfaelische Hochschule
- Bachelor's of Arts in Intercultural Public Relations from Juniata College
Career
Teaching history
University of Wisconsin- La Crosse:
CST 110- Communicating Effectively
University of Arizona:
SBS 200- Introduction to Statistics for Social Science Majors
Comm 309- History of Media Effects
Comm 405- Children and Media
Professional history
Graduate Teaching Associate at University of Arizona, Department of Communication
Community Leader, Grad CAFE, University of Arizona