Her research has focused on the role of information and communication in the prevention of HIV/AIDS and domestic violence and the ways in which people feel about different kinds of messages across different cultures.Karen W. Gavigan is an assistant professor in the School of Library and Information Science at the University of South Carolina, USA. Her research interests include the use of graphic novels in schools and libraries and the instructional role of the school librarian. With Mindy Tomasevich, Gavigan is co-author of Connecting Comics to Curriculum: Strategies for Grades 6-12 and the ""Connecting Comics to Curriculum"" column in Library Media Connection.Sarah Petrulis studied illustrations and painting at the University of South Carolina, USA and the School of Visual Arts in New York, USA.