​​RICHARD A. GERSHON                                        

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I am Professor Emeritus at Western Michigan University, where I’ve focused my career on
media business strategy and technology innovation. I earned my Ph.D. from Ohio University

and have always been passionate about helping students understand how media management and emerging technologies come together in meaningful ways. Teaching has been one of the greatest joys of my career.  I’ve been fortunate to receive national recognition for my work in

the classroom, including the Steven H. Coltrin Professor of the Year Award from the International
Radio & Television Society (IRTS) and the Barry Sherman Award for Teaching Excellence from

the Management and Economics Division of AEJMC.  In 2007, I was also honored with Western

Michigan University’s Distinguished Teaching Award.  

 

As a researcher, I’ve had the opportunity to author or edit ten books, along with numerous
journal articles and book chapters.  My most recent work include serving as editor of
The De Gruyter Handbook of Media Technology and Innovation as well as publishing the second edition of Digital Media and Innovation: Management and Design Strategies in Communication (Routledge, 2024).  I have been privileged to serve as a Fulbright Scholar, with visiting appointments at the University of Navarra in Spain and Nihon University in Japan.  I also serve

on the editorial boards of The International Journal on Media Management, Journal of Media Economics, and The Journal of Media Business Studies. 

 

Service has always been an important part of my professional life. I am a founding member
and former President of the Information, Telecommunications Education and Research Association (ITERA), a consortium of 15 universities dedicated to advancing media and telecommunications education.  At WMU, I served as President of the Faculty Senate and chaired the Campus Planning and Finance Council twice. I was closely involved in several campus planning initiatives, including the development of Miller Plaza and the Heritage Hall remodeling project, and I led the Interdisciplinary Academic Studies (IAS) project team exploring the future of Interdisciplinary Academic Studies at WMU. I am especially grateful to have been recognized by Western Michigan University’s College of Arts & Sciences in three major award categories: Teaching (2005),

Research and Creative Activities (2015), and Professional and Community Service (2017).

These honors reflect the three areas I care most deeply about — helping students succeed, contributing to research and scholarship, and serving my academic community.

 

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