Contact Information
702 S Wright Street
Urbana IL 61801
Research Areas
Biography
Grace A. Giorgio holds a B.A. in the Humanities from the University of California, Berkeley (1986), a Masters in Cinema Studies from San Francisco State University (1995) and a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (2001). Her research, writing and teaching examine communication practices in interpersonal and public domains with the intention of bridging the personal and the political. She studies the experimental use of qualitative research methods to investigate the intersection of self, culture and the public sphere. Dr. Giorgio’s research interests branch into two directions: using writing as a method of inquiry to creatively and critically explore the cultural expectations and tensions in interpersonal and family communication contexts as well as writing, public speaking and debate as modes of civic engagement.
Research Interests
Gender and family communication, qualitative research methods, autoethnography, media studies, sustainability and public policy
Research Description
Dr. Giorgio studies the experimental use of qualitative research methods to investigate the intersection of self, culture and the public sphere. Her research interests branch into two directions: using writing as a method of inquiry to creatively and critically explore the cultural expectations and tensions in interpersonal and family communication contexts. Dr. Giorgio is particularly interested in the healing powers of writing in all of its creative and experimental formations.
Education
Ph.D. UIUC 2001
M.A. SFSU 1995
B.A. UC Berkeley 1986
Grants
Area Research Seed Grant
Provost’s Faculty Retreat Grant
Provost’s Initiative on Teaching Advancement Grant
Strategic Instructional Innovations Program
Awards and Honors
Chancellor’s Undergraduate Teaching Award, Spring 2013
Courses Taught
CMN 375: Popular Media and Culture
CMN/GWS 432: Gender and Language
CMN CHP 395/396: Gender Communication
CMN CHP 220: Communicating Public Policy: Our Cities/ Ourselves
CMN 320: Communication and Controversies in Public Policy
CMN 111/112: Introduction to Oral and Written Communication
Additional Campus Affiliations
Teaching Associate Professor, Communication
Highlighted Publications
Giorgio, G. (2023). Russia Remembered An Autoethnographic Journey. Journal of Autoethnography, 4(2), 224-235. https://doi.org/10.1525/joae.2023.4.2.224
Giorgio, G. (2022). Mother’s Eyes. Cultural Studies - Critical Methodologies, 22(3), 302-304. https://doi.org/10.1177/15327086221079403
Giorgio, G. (2014). Ars Moriendi. Qualitative Inquiry, 20(1), 23-26. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077800413508541
Giorgio, G. (2018). A Love Letter to Our Past and Future. Qualitative Inquiry, 24(5), 355-356. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077800417741974
Giorgio, G. A. (2017). Whitewashing the Past: A KKK Display in a Small Rural Midwestern Town. Qualitative Inquiry, 23(2), 134-136. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077800416629697
Recent Publications
Giorgio, G. A., & Bunsold, K. (2025). Teaching popular media and culture through the American family lens. European Journal of American Culture, 44(1), 63-71. https://doi.org/10.1386/ejac_00134_1
Giorgio, G. (2024). Introduction: Reproductive Justice. Cultural Studies - Critical Methodologies, 24(1), 3-5. https://doi.org/10.1177/15327086231217218
Giorgio, G. A. (2024). Owning the Lies. Qualitative Inquiry, 30(10), 888-891. https://doi.org/10.1177/10778004231198534
Giorgio, G. (2023). Russia Remembered An Autoethnographic Journey. Journal of Autoethnography, 4(2), 224-235. https://doi.org/10.1525/joae.2023.4.2.224
Giorgio, G. (2022). Mother’s Eyes. Cultural Studies - Critical Methodologies, 22(3), 302-304. https://doi.org/10.1177/15327086221079403