Jonathan Alexander Newby (He/They) is a graduate student in American Studies at the University of Texas at Austin, where he is currently pursuing his master's degree. They hail from Virginia, raised in Chesterfield and attended undergrad in Williamsburg, at the College of William & Mary, where they majored in both American Studies (with honors) and Digital Studies.

Jonathan's research is concerned with the ways that new media and technology in the late-20th and 21st century affect both large-scale community building and individual identity formation - especially among those of marginalized identities - across several mediums, including social media and video games. His other academic interests include contemporary American pop culture and society, the modern-day politics of evangelical Christianity, and higher education administration and reform.

Highly engaged with his community, Jonathan is a dedicated advocate for marginalized people. He is a consistent voice for Black and Queer communities, using his connections and research expertise to educate all people on the need for authentic inclusion in all human endeavors. He is also active in his religious community as a Unitarian Universalist, acting as a modern-day evangelist for culturally- and theologically-diverse spirituality.