About Lora

Technology and Automotive Communication Professional

Background

The car culture in America is my biggest interest. The best way to learn about it? Immerse myself. By attending McPherson College, I learned how automobile culture in America started, why we have such a love affair with speed, how the machines work and, most importantly, what the drive is to continue to restore outdated technology in a world of self-driving vehicles. This last point is probably the most important, because it stayed on my mind as I graduated, worked a few different jobs in different areas to see what fit, and ultimately led me to earning my master’s degree. At Kansas State University, I currently research the phenomenon of Forced Car Ownership, the effect of autonomous vehicles in rural America, the rhetoric of automotive campaigns by companies that promote AV, and ultimately what all of these say about us as a society. You can read more about these specific areas over on my blog (link). However, you’ll notice my degree is Communication Studies, which is not what you first think of when I say I study automotive technology. Communication is how we make sense of the world around us, and as the technology changes that mobilizes us, our communication changes with it. For example, cruise culture was a popular socializing event for American youth, yet has steadily declined for a myriad of reasons (insert link here to blog post with evidence). Where have the conversations and communication that took place in the vehicle gone? I have my hypothesis, which you can read about here (link).

While my main interest is in automobiles, you will see from my résumé that I am not afraid to work any job I find interesting or skill-building.

Find me on LinkedIn