Dr. Briana Martino is Associate Professor and Chair of Communications and affiliated faculty in Race, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. They hold a BS in clinical psychology with emphasis in neuroscience and literature from Tufts University as well as a BA certificate from Simmons' Department of Communications. They earned their doctoral degree in queer and feminist cultural studies from Stony Brook University.
Martino's research and teaching interests bridge graphic medicine, mad/disability justice, queer/trans visual culture, and critical feminist pedagogies. Their work has been published in peer-reviewed journals such as MAI: Journal of Feminism and Visual Culture, The Journal of Literary and Cultural Disability Studies, and The Graphic Medicine Review.
Their book Keywords/Keyimages in Graphic Medicine (February 2026, Penn State University Press), co-edited with Lisa Diedrich, invites readers to explore the field of graphic medicine through a new concept: “keywords/keyimages,” coined by the editors to reflect the unique combination of words and images in comics. Bringing together scholars, health professionals, patients, and artists, the book generates a transdisciplinary verbal/visual lexicon which offers a portal to the concepts, methods, and politics of the field of graphic medicine.
Area of Expertise
Graphic Medicine, Madness and Disability Justice, Feminist/Queer/Crip Cultural Studies, Documentary Media, Visual Culture, Critical Feminist Pedagogies
Education
- PhD, Cultural Studies, from Stony Brook University
- MA Certificate, Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, from Stony Brook University
- MA, Cultural Studies, from Stony Brook University
- BA, Certificate, Integrated Media, from Simmons University
- BS, Clinical Psychology, from Tufts University, summa cum laude
Courses
- CHL 428 The Graphic Novel
- COMM 121 Visual Communication
- COMM 244 Storytelling
- COMM 323 Digital Cultures
- COMM 390 Studio 5
- COMM/LTWR195 Art of Film
- COMM/LTWR 221 Critical Lens: Intro to Film and Media Theory
- GCS 466G Graphic Medicine: Comics, Health, Identity, and Power
- WGST 111 Intro to LGBTQ Studies
- WGST 353 Madness
Research and Special Projects
New England Graphic Medicine Summit
Publications
Keywords/Keyimages in Graphic Medicine (February 2026, Penn State University Press)
Awards
- Alden Poole Mentor Award, Alum-nominated award is named in honor of Professor Alden Poole (Department of Communications, 1955–1986) and his exemplary work helping students achieve their potentials, including his formative role in the life of Gwen Ifill (’77, ’93HD), 2023
- “Silver Lining” Innovative Teaching Award, Davis Educational Foundation, 2021
- STAR Scholar, Simmons College, 2018–2019
- Swag, Fly, Lit Award, Dancing with the Professors, Simmons University, 2018
Briana Martino in the News
Congratulations to the 2024 SURPASs Scholars
Twelve undergraduate scholars from different disciplines have been selected to join the Summer Undergraduate Research Program at Simmons (SURPASs), a highly competitive, fully funded research and mentorship program. During this six week intensive, students will work with a faculty mentor to execute an independent research project of their own design and development.
Studio 5 Imparts Real-World Industry Experience to Communications Students
Essentially a student-run communications agency, Studio 5 gives Communications students at Simmons a taste of real work experience. We spoke with Communications professors and recent alumnae/i about what makes Studio 5 such a successful exercise in experiential learning.
Twelve Simmons Faculty Members Receive Promotions, Tenure, and Emerita/us Status
Last month, the Simmons Board of Trustees finalized decisions concerning the promotion, tenure, and emerita/us status of select faculty members. We are pleased to congratulate the following faculty members for their outstanding accomplishments: Promotion to the rank of Professor Daren...
Simmons Faculty Recognized for Innovative Teaching During the Pandemic
Simmons University received a $10,000 Presidential Grant through the Davis Education Foundation to fund a Post-Pandemic Innovative Teaching Award.
Shout-outs from Students and Alums
Honing Hands-on Editing and Interdisciplinary Journalism
Alicia Guzman ’25 reflects on the supportive faculty members she found at Simmons, her favorite courses, the research projects she conducted, and how she became inspired to pursue a media studies degree in graduate school.
Ifill Scholar Carla Bamaca ’24 on the Impact of Visual Storytelling
Ifill Scholar Carla Bamaca shares her passion for filmmaking and storytelling to inspire change.
Sherri Burnett '24 Hones her Marketing Skills with a Full-time Job and Side Businesses
Sherri Burnett '24 Hones her Marketing Skills with a Full-time Job and Side Businesses Public Relations and Marketing/Communications major Sherri Burnett is pursuing her degree online from California. Simmons is giving her the tools she needs to further hone her...
Alexandra Bohanan '19 Looks to Gwen Ifill as an Icon
Congratulations to Alexandra Bohanan ‘19, recipient of the Ifill Scholarship! As you look to the future, what are your goals and dreams for yourself? My dream is to have enough money and stability to create art freely and help the...
Priscilla Wiltshire-Bland '20 on the Impact of a Simmons Education
Congratulations to Priscilla Wiltshire-Bland '20, recipient of the Ifill Scholarship! As you look to the future, what are your goals and dreams for yourself? I'm interested in student affairs and helping adult learners/non-traditional students navigate college life. As a nontraditional...