Please contact Dr. Works (keworks@fsu.eu) for additional help: Submission navigation links for Research Symposium Program Portal WF ‹ Previous submission Next submission › Submission information Submission Number: 156 Submission ID: 9004 Submission UUID: 7e287ae0-41a1-4e58-a16e-a28e1b91e0c5 Submission URI: /student-research/symposium/research-symposium-program-portal Submission Update: /student-research/symposium/research-symposium-program-portal?token=qi9uexuJG4lgNqMCztsw3Opa-OXuTLu1z7o55cOVM2w Created: Tue, 01/20/2026 - 01:00 PM Completed: Tue, 01/20/2026 - 01:02 PM Changed: Mon, 04/06/2026 - 02:47 PM Remote IP address: 146.201.13.22 Submitted by: Anonymous Language: English Is draft: No Webform: Research Symposium Program Portal WF Submitted to: Student Research Symposium Program Portal Primary Student Contact First Name Primary Student Contact Last Name Pronouns Primary Student Contact FSU Student Email Photo of all individuals presenting this work D.Collins HeadShot.jpg57.42 KB Remove Upload requirementsOne file only.2 MB limit. Major(s) of all individuals presenting this work Bio of all individuals presenting this work Building on my undergraduate work at Florida State University, I am currently pursuing an M.S. in Corporate & Public Communication at the Panama City campus. My academic interests focus on rhetoric and media studies, particularly media and rhetorical approaches that challenge conventional analysis and encourage new ways of thinking about communication. I enjoy blending pop culture, narrative, and various media to help make complex ideas clearer and more engaging. My current research examines The Walt Disney Company’s response to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill, using characters from Wicked as an interpretive lens to explore rhetorical positioning and meaning‑making. With a professional background in hospitality, I place a strong value on audience perspective, lived experience, and relational communication, all of which shape my approach to research. I plan to pursue a Ph.D. and a career as a professor and researcher. Poster Title Abstract In 2022, The Walt Disney Company faced widespread criticism for its initially cautious response to Florida’s Parental Rights in Education law, commonly known as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. As a brand known for storytelling which features inclusion, Disney’s measured communication prompted questions regarding leadership authenticity, values alignment, and stakeholder trust. This research examines audience interpretations of Disney’s leadership communication during the controversy using a narrative leadership framework inspired by Wicked. The study maps three leadership archetypes to the Disney case: transformational leadership (Elphaba), symbolic leadership (Glinda), and authoritarian leadership (the Wizard). These archetypes offer a clear interpretive lens for analyzing perceptions of leadership communication strategies during the crisis. Using a mixed methods exploratory sequential design, the study combines qualitative coding of public social media discourse across platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, with narrative analysis of key scenes from the Wicked films. These data sources enable examination of stakeholder interpretations of Disney’s communication and alignment with various leadership communication styles. Additionally, a pilot survey was developed to explore stakeholder perceptions of leadership authenticity, communication timing, and values alignment. Despite limited early responses, the survey provides an exploratory foundation for future research. By integrating leadership theory with cultural narrative analysis, this research demonstrates how storytelling frameworks can illuminate complex organizational communication challenges and provides insights for leaders navigating politically sensitive issues while maintaining credibility and stakeholder trust. Research Mentor Name Research Mentor's College (or High School) Research Mentor's Department (or Subject) Research Mentor's Email Additional Research Mentor(s) Co-presenter(s) Keywords Poster Session/Number Work Complete Exploratory (the research question has been identified and design of approach is outlined) Presentation Modality Face to Face Poster session Synchronous Online Presentation Asynchronous Online Presentation Poster PDF or Powerpoint D.Collins Research Symposium Poster 3.2026 Update_0.pdf5.29 MB Remove Upload requirementsOne file only.100 MB limit. Poster Thumbnail D.Collins Symposium Poster Spring 2026.png723.14 KB Remove Upload requirementsOne file only.2 MB limit. I will be printing my poster CAPTCHA What code is in the image? Enter the characters shown in the image. This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions. Save Leave this field blank
