English and sociology major studies female empowerment in Star Trek fan fiction

As a first-generation college student, Anna Whiting ’26 of Westerville, Ohio, dealt with perfectionism and imposter syndrome, but completing her Independent Study at The College of Wooster taught her to have confidence in herself and her abilities. The English and sociology major, with a pathway in museum and archival studies, traveled to university archives to study the subculture of Star Trek fan fiction, ultimately arguing that fanzines are a unique form of writing and art because of their women-led, community-based, and non-commercial nature. Further, as she moves toward a career in media and library sciences, her research emphasizes the value archivists bring to research through curation and collection access.

EXCITING ASPECTS

Whiting: I traveled to several universities to study the archives of fanzines (small, non-professional magazines circulated among a relatively small audience of fans of a TV series, book, or movie) about Star Trek: The Original Series. Most of these fanzines were written, edited, and read by women, and because they were not published by a large corporate publisher, the women who created them had immense creative control.

Whiting presented her research in the Andrews Library during the I.S. Symposium on campus.

EMPOWERED IN MY FIELD

Whiting: What I loved most about I.S., especially as a double major, was that I was empowered to take a truly interdisciplinary approach to my research. I drew on my majors in English and sociology but also included methods and analytical approaches from anthropology; women’s, gender, and sexuality studies; and archival studies. Because I had the freedom to choose my topic and methods and conduct my own analysis, I was able to make the project truly my own.  

MENTORSHIP MATTERS

Whiting: My advisors, Dr. Christa Craven and Dr. Claire Eager, were incredibly supportive throughout the entire I.S. process. As I completed my research, they treated me as a colleague and expert. They also showed me it’s okay to ask for help when I need it. I could not have completed this project without them.

SUPPORTIVE SCOT COMMUNITY

Whiting: From the first weeks of my first year at Wooster, Dr. John Rudisill was a constant source of support. He believed in me and saw potential I didn’t know I had, and his coaching during my four years on the moot court team made me a better reader, writer, and public speaker. Denise Monbarren, retired special collections librarian, and Rebecca Roper, special collections librarian, were also instrumental in stoking my interest in library science as a research topic and potential career.

MY TAKEAWAYS

Whiting: Completing my I.S. showed me I’m capable of more than I think, which will give me the courage to take on other big projects in the future.

WHAT’S NEXT

Whiting: After taking a gap year to gain work experience in libraries and archives, I will earn my master’s degree in library and information science. I hope to become an archivist or academic librarian.

Posted in Independent Study on June 10, 2026.