PhD Student
Cornell University
Department of Communication

Ria Gualano
About Me
In May 2022, I graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Theatre Arts. Since August 2022, I have continued my education as a PhD student in the Cornell University Department of Communication.
​
Broadly, my research centers the communication of disability, which I currently examine through projects on participatory disability and neurodiversity arts, higher education accommodations and accessibility, and invisible disability representation in social VR avatars.
I am particularly interested in participatory research methods and organized the Spring 2024 "Invisible Aspects of Disability and Neurodiversity" arts exhibition at Cornell. As a 2025-2026 Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellow, I will continue this work through field research and an immersive technology-integrated disability and neurodiversity arts exhibition.
​
During my time at Johns Hopkins, I led projects on the psychological effects of social media use and collaborated with teams on research related to memory, interpersonal relationships, and well-being.
​
Outside of research, I enjoy fashion design and write romance novels that spotlight folklore and culture from my Chinese heritage.
​
Research Interests
Accessible technology, computer-mediated communication, disability and neurodiversity arts, disability representation, higher education accommodations, inclusive avatars, invisible disabilities, virtual reality