Research Experience

Dr. Tressie McMillan Cottom, 2018 - present

  • Recruited participants and assisted with data collection for a study on Black women entrepreneurs' use of digital tools in lieu of traditional forms of capital using MAXQDA for qualitative analysis

  • Conducted literature reviews for expert testimony on for-profit colleges given to the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

  • Provided production assistance, including background research, editing, and social media marketing for Hear To Slay, a podcast hosted by Dr. Cottom and Dr. Roxane Gay

Dr. Douglas Kimemia, 2017 - 2018

  • Conducted literature reviews for a study on multinational corporations’ exploitation of African institutions

  • Provided proofreading and editorial support for a book on the organizational culture of nongovernmental organizations in Africa

Selected Publications

Garcia, Lauren C. (2020) “Finding Jesus in the Tear Gas” The Cheats Movement. 

Garcia, Lauren C. (2020) “From the Margins to the Center: Legitimation Strategies from an Alt-Right Case Study” VCU Scholar Commons.

Garcia, Lauren C. & McMillan Cottom, T. (2020) “Why You Should Consider an unConference for Your Next Academic Meeting” The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Garcia, Lauren C. (2017) “Theorizing Race on the Internet” Digital Sociology @ VCU.

Conference Presentations

“Analyzing how Instagram users discuss #environmentaljustice.” Nicole H. O'Donnell, Aurora Higgs, and Lauren Garcia. International Communications Association Annual Conference, virtual, May 27, 2021.

“Conflicting Realities: How Mothers Negotiate the Student Role in Higher Ed.” Sociologists for Women in Society Winter Meeting, virtual, January 31, 2021.

“Explaining QAnon: White Supremacist Use of Digital Technologies.” Race, Space, Place Initiative 2020 unConference, virtual, November 19-21, 2020.

“The Aesthetics of the Right: A Comparative Analysis of Right-Wing Websites.” VCU Sociological Seminar in Practice, Richmond VA, December 6, 2019.

“Deep Roots: Mapping the Networks of the Right.” Eastern Sociological Society Annual Conference, Baltimore MD, February 22-25, 2018.

View my Full CV