Tanja Aitamurto, PhD
I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Illinois Chicago, where I lead the Media/Democracy Lab as its founding director. My research focuses on understanding how people use media to connect, express, and participate in democratic life. I study the ways communication practices shape understanding, empathy, and inclusion in society, asking how media can empower individuals and communities to engage more fully in civic life and influence the collective structures of democracy. By integrating social science and design perspectives, my work examines the reciprocal relationships among people, communication, and society to foster a more equitable and informed public sphere.