Erin M. Sumner, Ph.D.
- Associate Professor , Human Communication and Theatre
Erin Sumner is a west-coast native who came to Trinity after earning her Ph.D. at Arizona State University’s Hugh Downs School of Human Communication. Her research focuses on the role of computer-mediated communication (e.g., social media, online dating, and other communication technologies) in social and personal relationships. Blending theory with application, she worked as a doctoral research intern with the Socio-Digital Systems group at Microsoft Research Cambridge, and spoke at the 2016 South-by-Southwest Interactive convention. She has co-authored more than 25 scholarly publications in edited volumes and journals such as Communication Monographs, Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, New Media & Society, Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, and Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking. She received the 2018 “Distinguished Early Career Faculty Teaching and Research Award” from Trinity University, and the 2013 “Outstanding Dissertation Award” from the Human Communication & Technology Division of the National Communication Association. Her work has also received “Top 4 Paper” awards from multiple divisions of the National Communication Association.