Ellie Homant is a PhD student in the graduate field of Communication at Cornell University. Her research investigates online LGBTQ+ representations and communities, digital labor, and identity management using qualitative research methods under a queer and feminist media studies framework. Currently, she is researching influencer talent management agencies and their role in the professionalization of the influencer economy. Her previous work focused on LGBTQ+-identified beauty YouTubers and how they construct an authentic and expert self on in their videos.
Ellie's teaching focuses on equipping students with effective communication techniques and strategies that they can apply both within and outside of the classroom. At Cornell, she has served as the Instructor of Record for Communication 2010 (Oral Communication), as well as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for Communication 3200 (New Media & Society) and Communication 2200 (Media Communication).
Prior to Cornell, Ellie completed a BA with High Distinction in Communication & Media (Highest Honors) and Linguistics at the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor. She has a background in marketing and executive recruiting, having worked at boutique agencies in the Chicago area. Outside of work, she loves to read fiction, ride her bike, and spend time with her cat, Luna.
Education
M.S., Communication, Cornell University
B.A. with High Distinction, Communication & Media (Highest Honors) and Linguistics, University of Michigan
Interests
social media and online communities; digital labor; influencer culture; queer and feminist media studies; identity, marginality, and inequality; qualitative research methods
Homant, E. and Russell, A. (2022). “Coming Out and Coming Up: Quantifying Queer Immaterial Labor.” Association of Internet Researchers, Dublin, Ireland: November 2022.
Homant, E. (2022). “Getting to Know Nikkie: Queer Immaterial Labor and Trans-identified Beauty YouTuber NikkieTutorials.” International Communication Association, Paris, France; May, 2022.
Homant, E. & Sender, K. (2019). “Queer Immaterial Labor in Beauty Videos by LGBTQ-Identified YouTubers.” International Journal of Communication, 13, 5386-5404.
Homant, E. & Sender, K. (2019). “LGBTQ-Tube: Queer Immaterial Labor in Beauty Videos by LGBTQ-Identified YouTubers.” The Society for Cinema and Media Studies, Seattle, WA; March, 2019.
Awards Graduate student Ria Gualano received a Mellon/American Council of Learned Societies Dissertation Innovation Fellowship. The program supports 45 doctoral students in the humanities and social sciences pursuing innovative approaches to...
Briefings, Conference Presentations, Panels & Workshops Associate Professor Brooke Duffy delivered two panel talks at the Association of Internet Researchers annual conference. In “From CareerTok to #Quietquitting: Social Media Communication...