Academic overview

I earned a Ph.D. in Communication from Liberty University in 2026. I also hold an M.A. in Communication from New York Institute of Technology and a B.S. in Communication Arts from St. John’s University. My work bridges scholarly inquiry, teaching, and the communication demands of emergency medical services and public service.

ORCID iD: 0009-0006-8750-6435 ↗

Doctoral research

2026

The Social Construction of Firearm Meaning in 2022 Hollywood Films: A Qualitative Content Analysis

Doctoral dissertation · Liberty University

This qualitative study examines how 2022 Hollywood films communicate meanings about firearms through story, character, visual symbolism, and genre. It considers the ways screen narratives frame power, identity, heroism, conflict, and morality. The research draws on social construction and semiotic perspectives to understand how entertainment media can shape shared cultural meaning.

Read the dissertation in Liberty University's repository ↗

Research focus: the messages audiences encounter in popular media—and how those messages acquire meaning in social and cultural contexts.

Higher-education teaching

Since 2005

St. John’s University

Adjunct Associate Professor · Communication

Teaching and mentoring students in communication, media, and related applied disciplines. Coursework connects critical thinking with effective messages, professional practice, and digital media.

Since 2003

Kingsborough Community College

Adjunct Lecturer · Tourism & Hospitality

Instruction in professional communication and applied topics, drawing on experience across education, technology, and service organizations.

The teaching portfolio includes a teaching philosophy, selected creative work, and a summary of student course evaluations. Open the portfolio ↗

Research & teaching interests

Communication theoryMedia studiesFilm analysisSocial constructionSemioticsPopular cultureDigital mediaApplied communication

Professional endorsements

Selected third-party recommendations documenting my applied communication and media-production work.

30 June 2020

Anthony Melchiorri

Television host and creator of Hotel Impossible

In a letter following a Kingsborough Community College seminar, Mr. Melchiorri recommended my digital-content and video-editing skills. He described my work preparing footage from Hotel Impossible for discussion during the presentation.

View public recommendation letter (PDF) ↗

The public copy preserves the letter's wording and typed attribution but omits the handwritten signature for privacy.

Selected work & academic links

Published doctoral dissertation

Read the complete study through Liberty University's institutional repository.

Open dissertation ↗

Academic CV & teaching portfolio

Review degrees, appointments, teaching approach, and selected professional work.

View PDF ↗

Selected podcast appearance

“Cancel Culture Explained” — an episode of No Shade, All Tea.

Listen to episode ↗

Professional commentary & media

My EMS articles and community ambulance video are collected separately from academic research.

View articles & media ↗

Professional connection

Connect with me about teaching, communication scholarship, and academic collaboration.

Connect on LinkedIn ↗