Margaret Murray, Ph.D.

I believe in the power of stories and community, both for brands who want to connect with the public and for individuals who seek a meaningful life. This interest led me to earn my Ph.D. from the University of Colorado Boulder in Organizational Communication and Cultural Studies. It also served me well as a consultant at a narrative strategy firm in Seattle and a communications strategist for the University of Washington.

My current research focuses on identity, parenting, and crisis PR. I am a Michigander who has returned home and am thrilled to be at UM-Dearborn.

Teaching Interests

Public Relations, Public Speaking

Additional Research Interests

public relations, parenting, cultural studies

Selected Publications

Murray, M. A., “Calm in the storm: Emily Oster’s parenting newsletter during COVID-19,” Women’s Studies in Communication, 2022. 10.1080/07491409.2022.2025531

Murray, M. A. “Pitchfork’s authenticity problem: The critical reception of Vampire Weekend and Lil Wayne,” Communication, Culture and Critique, vol. 14, no. 2, 2021, pp. 237-251.

Murray, M. A. & Desrayaud, N. “Female fashion as leisure and labor on Reddit,” Journal of Communication Inquiry, vol. 45, no. 4, 2020, pp. 301-318.

Murray, M. A., “White, male, and bartending in Detroit: Masculinity work in a hipster scene,” Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, vol. 49, no. 4, 2020, pp. 456-480.

Bauer, J. and Murray, M. A., “‘Leave your emotions at home’: Bereavement, organizational space, and professional identity." Women’s Studies in Communication, vol. 41, no. 1, 2018, pp. 60-81.

--Bauer, J., Murray, M. A., and Ngondo, P. S. "Who's missing out? The
impact of digital networking behavior and social identity on PR job search
outcomes," Public Relations Review, 2023.
--Murray, M. A., "Calm in the storm: Emily Oster's parenting newsletter
during COVID-19," Women's Studies in Communication, 2022.
--Murray, M. A. "Pitchfork's authenticity problem: The critical reception of
Vampire Weekend and Lil Wayne," Communication, Culture and Critique,
vol. 14, no. 2, 2021.
--Murray, M. A., "White, male, and bartending in Detroit: Masculinity work in
a hipster scene," Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, vol. 49, 2020.

Vansant-Spoiden Presentation Award (LCA department) - 2023
Outstanding Student Organization Advisor Award (campus wide) - 2023