Trudy M. Mercadal has a Bachelor in Arts in International Studies from Barry University, as well as a Master of Arts in Communication from Florida Atlantic University and a Master of Arts in Liberal Arts from Barry University. Currently, she has finished her doctoral dissertation in the Comparative Studies program of the Comparative Studies program at Florida Atlantic University. Her main research interests and publications deal with intercultural communication and community building and the intersections of popular culture and communication?especially in the areas of music and listening.