Program Director, Communication; Assistant Professor; Full-time Faculty
When Brian Sheridan steps into a ČÕŗ«ĀŅĀ× classroom, he brings with him the pulse of the newsroom, the weight of history, and the heart of a storyteller. An award-winning journalist turned educator, Brian has been shaping minds in the Communication program for 20 years, following a dynamic career as a television reporter and anchor.
Heās perhaps most known for being the only journalist on the scene during one of the most bizarre and haunting crimes in modern American historyāthe 2003 "Pizza Bomber" case. His frontline reporting on the mysterious death of pizza deliveryman Brian Wells in Erie gained international attention, with his work featured by media outlets across the globeāfrom Great Britain to Japan to Australia - as well as the Netflix true crime sensationĀ Evil Genius.
But Brianās talents go beyond the newsroom. He co-authoredĀ America in the 1930sĀ for Syracuse University Press and continues to contribute chapters, articles, and insights to textbooks, journals, and niche publications likeĀ The Syncopated Times.
In the classroom, Brian is a force of creativity and authenticity. Whether heās guiding students through the art ofĀ Media Performance, the craft ofĀ Multimedia Writing, or the cultural impact explored inĀ Film Appreciation, he brings real-world perspective and deep human insight.
Brian is at the forefront of keeping the Communication curriculum fresh and future-focused. He has created new courses likeĀ Artificial Intelligence in CommunicationĢż²¹²Ō»å Contemporary Media Literacy, ensuring that students understand todayās media landscape and are prepared to lead it into tomorrow. His courseĀ Mindful Communicationāa student favoriteāblends his training in mindfulness and meditation with the core principles of meaningful dialogue and emotional intelligence. Media outlets also often call on Brian to give his perspective on changes and challenges to the media in the 21st century.
- B.A., ČÕŗ«ĀŅĀ× University (1987)
- M.A.,Ā Edinboro University (2001)
- History of Mass Media Public Speaking
- Social Media Journalism Mindfulness
- Multimedia Writing Communication in Society
- Introduction to Social Media
- Digital Storytelling
- Mindful Communication
- Oral Communication
- Broadcast Newswriting
- Newswriting & Principles of Journalism
- Film Appreciation
- Media Performance
- President, Meals on Wheels Erie Board of Directors
- āFinding Storiesā In Vincent Filakās (Ed.), Convergent Journalism: An Introduction: Writing And Producing Across Media (Routledge Press, 2019, 2023)
- Deadline (Review), 2019. Journal: American Journalism, Volume: 38, Issue: 04, pages 512 - 513.
- āFrom the Tatami Mat to the Printed Page: Author Barry Eisler & His Fiction.ā In Michael DeMarcoās (Ed.), Asian Martial Arts: Constructive Thoughts and Practical Applications. Via Media Publishing, 2016)
- āAmerica in the Thirties (America in the Twentieth Century Series)ā by John Olzowka, Marnie Sullivan, Brian R. Sheridan, and Dennis Hickey. (Syracuse University Press, 2014)
- āA Picture Palace Transformed: How Erieās Warner Theater Survived A Changing Worldā by Barb Hauck, Brian Sheridan, and Art Becker (Erie Civic Center Authority Publication, 2009).
- Various articles in publications āThe Syncopated Timesā and āLake Erie Lifestyle"