Dr. McNeill is an associate professor of folklore in the English Department at Utah State University. She serves as the Chair of the Folklore Program, and her research interests include legend, belief, the supernatural, and digital culture. She is the author of the popular textbook Folklore Rules (2013), and is the co-editor of Slender Man is Coming: Creepypasta and Contemporary Legends on the Internet (2018) and Legend Tripping: A Contemporary Legend Casebook (2018). Her work has also been published in several flagship journals, including The Journal of American Folklore, Western Folklore, Contemporary Legend, and in numerous edited collections. Dr. McNeill serves on the board of the Western States Folklore Society and serves as reviews editor for the international journal Contemporary Legend. She has made several appearances on national television and radio programs, and is a regular on the Travel Channel's Paranormal Caught on Camera. Dr. McNeill teaches introductory courses in folklore, as well as topics courses that cover urban legends, conspiracy theories, digital folklore, and folk narrative. She loves opening students' eyes to the unexpected role that folklore plays in our lived experiences.
Dr. McNeill is available to serve on thesis committees for any folkloristic subject, especially those focused on legend and belief, digital culture, popular culture, or fandoms.
