McElroy

Q. McElroy is a Ph.D. student specializing in journalism and mass communication. Her current research focuses on the interplay between mass media and culture as well as journalism practices.

Before returning to academia, Q. spent more than 15 years in the industry practicing journalism and digital media for Cox Media Group, where she began as an intern for the Atlanta Journal Constitution. She held several leadership roles in Atlanta (AJC.com, accessAtlanta.com, corporate headquarters) and Ohio (Dayton Daily News, WHIO.com, etc.), where she created and implemented strategies to help brands grow their digital audiences using online news production, content optimization, affiliate partnerships, social media, newsletters, and more. She also oversaw an award-winning team at CMG-Ohio in Dayton as the Sr. Director of Digital Strategy for 10 brands across newspaper, radio and TV, including the No. 1 CBS affiliate in the country.

Q., an Atlanta native, has taught several in-person and virtual courses for undergraduates and adult learners, including a leadership development seminar for media professionals at the Poynter Media Institute.

EDUCATION

Publications

McElroy, Q. (2025). “Big Butt Ideology”: Digital Gaze and Evolving Normative Beauty Constructs for Black Women. Howard Journal of Communications, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/10646175.2025.2567330

AWARDS & GRANTS

• Inez Kaiser Graduate Student Award (2026)
• Paul Ashley Simon Memorial Scholarship (2026-2027)
• William I. Ray, Jr. Scholarship (2026-2027)                                                                         
• Thank-a-Teacher Award Recipient, UGA (2026)                                       
• Top Poster Award – 1st Place, AEJMC Conference (2025)
• AEJMC-MCSD Career Development Fellow (2025-2026)
• James Waldo Woodruff, Jr. Scholarship (2025-2026)
• Charlayne Hunter-Gault Grant (2025)
• Top Student Presentation Award, Georgia Communication Association (2024)
• Lambda Pi Eta Communication Honor Society (inducted Fall 2023)