As a Communication and Media Studies doctoral candidate at the University of Oregon, Beck Banks specializes in transgender media and transgender rurality. Originally from Dolly Parton country, Beck is curious about how rural-based trans media activists understand and work within their communities as well as how they are received by them. Beck frequently collaborates with these activists on projects. To boot, they examine trans television representation and activist efforts — or the performance of those. Having spent years as a reporter and in higher education communication, Beck teaches a variety of courses under the communication and media studies umbrella, ranging from creative strategist to public speaking to media production.
