Alina Freeman
Communications Specialist
About
<p class="p1">Alina Freeman (she/her) is a first-year PhD student in the inaugural doctoral cohort of the Department of Media Studies at the University of Virginia. Beyond her doctoral program, she is a public relations consultant for arts organizations and multicultural marketing agencies.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Prior to entering graduate schools, she worked at Hill & Knowlton, MSL Group and Porter Novelli specializing in client relations, event management, media relations, data analytics and multicultural publicity. Her past clients include Mazda, Cadillac, Bayer, KitchenAid, McDonald’s and the Almond Board of California. From 2014 - 2024, she was a diversity and inclusion practitioner with the NAIS Student Diversity and Leadership Conference, supporting curriculum development and affinity group management, as well as facilitating discussions with youth about race, gender, sexuality, and ability.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Her research explores race, romance, media, and culture within the United States along with the history of race and advertising. Alina holds an MA in Advertising and Public Relations from Michigan State University and a BA in African American studies from Syracuse University.</p>