Originally from Miami, Florida, Gaby Santos studies how social media and comedy shape engagement with institutions, politics, and social justice issues, with a particular focus on how these tools are used by the alt-right for radicalization and disinformation. She currently employs qualitative methods and plans to incorporate mixed methods in future research.

Prior to beginning her doctoral studies, Gaby spent nearly a decade in the entertainment and media industries, working with startups, international social media companies, freelancing as a scriptwriter, and most recently as a comedy writer for children’s media. Her career enabled her to live in various cities across the U.S. and abroad, providing her with a deeper understanding of the needs and perspectives of diverse populations. She also witnessed firsthand how comedy and social media can unite communities around important issues in meaningful ways, while at the same time being leveraged to misinform or manipulate audiences.

Gaby holds a Master’s in Communication from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University and a Bachelor’s in Communication from the University of Miami.