What Is DisNet?
The Disney, Culture and Society research network was founded in 2022 to create an international space where scholars could come together to discuss and collaborate on Disney research. Disney Studies has come to the fore in recent years, and is interdisciplinary in its nature. However, scholars working on Disney are so spread out across disciplines and continents that we need a 'home', where we can find one another, explore each other's work and collaborate on future research.
DisNet has provided that home, and has been steadily growing, something we are immensely proud of.
Our goal is to create an inclusive and interdisciplinary space where scholars and learners can come together to discuss and collaborate on Disney Studies research, whether that be books, articles, grants, or events. Our aim is to highlight and celebrate the cutting edge research being done on Disney, as well as share conference, publishing and funding opportunities. This will help us to continue to grow Disney Studies as a field.
As a research network, we provide a range of events and opportunities for our members to celebrate and support their research and careers, including:
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Annual Conference
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Book Launches
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Call for Papers
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Writing Groups
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Research Profile Showcase
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Mentoring
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Publishing Panels
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Members' Portal
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Networking Opportunities
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Work in Progress sessions
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Career Development Panels (Post-Graduate, Early Career, Alt Ac)
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If you want to get more involved with DisNet or find out more about any of these opportunities, contact the appropriate person from our leadership team!
Meet the Team
Robyn Muir
Founder & Director
Robyn is a Lecturer in Media and Communication in the Department of Sociology at the University of Surrey. She is a feminist media scholar, interested in how identity is constructed and interpreted within cultural phenomenon, especially the images of femininity in the Disney Princess Phenomenon and consumer meaning making. As founder and director, she is happy to help with all your DisNet needs!
Rebecca Rowe
Head of Operations
Rebecca is Assistant Professor of Children's Literature at Texas A&M University-Commerce. Her research focuses on how adaptations, both professional and fannish (and especially those related to Disney), change character identities due to cultural, media, and audience differences. It's her job to make sure the website works, so if you ever have any problems, feel free to reach out!
Bee Eldridge
Head of Communications
Brittany, infamously known as Bee, is finishing up her doctoral studies at the University College London. Her research primarily focuses on fairy tales, adaptations, culture, Queer representations, and literary theory. She loves a good villain.
Her primary role is to run the blog! She is also responsible for creating content on our social media accounts. Any questions or blog ideas? Email Bee!
Heather Holian
Head of Mentoring & Membership
Heather is Professor of Art History and the Associate Director of the School of Art at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. She is a specialist on the art, artists and artistic production of Pixar's third decade. Heather leads the DisNet mentorship program and it's also her job to recruit, help, and retain all of our amazing members. If you are interested in mentorship, have membership questions or suggestions please email hlholian@uncg.edu
Shearon Roberts
Head of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion
Shearon Roberts is an Associate Professor of Mass Communication and affiliate faculty in African American and African Diaspora Studies at Xavier University of Louisiana, a historically Black university in New Orleans. Her research explores diversity and representation across Disney's brand.
Emily Aguiló-Pérez
Head of Events
​Emily is Associate professor of English (Children's Literature) at West Chester University of Pennsylvania. Her research and teaching focuses on children's books, media, popular culture, and toys, and she often examines the representation of Latinxs in these-- including those produced by Disney. Her role as Head of Events for DisNet is to coordinate virtual (and hopefully some in-person) events and activities, such as book launches, so if you a new book or have any ideas for events, feel free to contact me!
Charlotte Durham
Treasurer
Charlotte is a PhD student at the University of Leeds. Her wider research interests involve feminism, research methods, digital, data-driven and datalogical systems, embodiment and everyday life, and biopolitics, such as how Disney’s everyday, hyper-mediated environment is entangled in affect, data, and space. It’s her job to manage DisNet’s finances and ensure that money is spent responsibly. If you have any questions about fees or finance, please get in touch!
Hannah Helm
Secretary
Hannah is an early career researcher and sessional lecturer at the University of Salford. Hannah researches feminist, anti-sanist, and anti-ableist representations of women in children's literature, fairy tales, and Disney film, and she has been appointed as DisNet's secretary, meaning she will be helping with the planning, running, and minuting of all of DisNet's meetings behind the scenes!