Kathryn Biddle

Biography

Katy Biddle earned her BA from Vanderbilt University in Communication Studies and an MA in Communication Studies from Illinois State University. She earned her Ph.D. in Mass Communication from the University of Iowa in 2024 and her dissertation used mixed methods to interrogate how fans negotiate parasocial relationships when their favorite celebrities share opposing political views. Her research interests involve the intersection between social media, popular culture, and politics. She is particularly interested in the social influence of athletes. Katy spent a year as a visiting assistant professor at the University of Southern Mississippi and is thrilled to join the Charley Steiner School of Sports Communication and return to the Midwest.