Jennifer Billinson

Jennifer Billinson (she/her/hers) joined the Newhouse School in fall 2025 as a assistant professor, teaching courses in the Bandier Program for Recording and Entertainment Industries. 

Prior to joining Syracuse University, Billinson was an assistant professor at Nazareth University and the director of the communications and media program. She taught the Introduction to Media Industries and Oral Communication. 

Billinson’s research looks at digital culture and the connection between popular music and emotion, as well as the use of popular music in response to disaster and tragedy. Her other areas of expertise include media representation and the history of popular music in the 20th century. 

Billinson has demonstrated a sustained and impactful research trajectory through a series of competitive fellowships and scholarly projects. Her doctoral dissertation and master’s thesis both explored the intersection of popular music and collective trauma, indicating early and consistent engagement with culturally resonant research themes. Her scholarly output includes peer-reviewed publications in journals such as Feminist Media Studies and Journal of Popular Music Studies. 

Billinson has received multiple honors recognizing her excellence in teaching, scholarship and public engagement. She was a finalist for the AEJMC Great Ideas for Teaching (GIFT) Award in 2017 for her innovative use of Snapchat in storytelling pedagogy. Her contributions as a Scholar in Residence at Congregation Olam Tikvah and invited seminars on LGBTQ diversity and digital sociology further highlight her interdisciplinary impact and commitment to inclusive education. She has also earned the Catherine L. Covert Research Award and the Outstanding T.A. Award from Syracuse University, underscoring her academic distinction during graduate study. Her disciplinary service includes frequent guest lectures across institutions and participation in national conferences such as AEJMC, BEA, and NWSA, where she has presented research on media representation, digital culture and feminist critique. 

Billinson received her Ph.D. in 2016 and M.A. in 2009 from the Newhouse School and a B.A. in 2006 from Indiana University.