Program Director, Communication; Assistant Professor
When Brian Sheridan steps into a Ƶapp 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.
He’s perhaps most known for being the only journalist on the scene during one of the most bizarre and haunting crimes in modern American history—the 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 globe—from Great Britain to Japan to Australia - as well as the Netflix true crime sensation Evil Genius.
But Brian’s talents go beyond the newsroom. He co-authored America in the 1930s for Syracuse University Press and continues to contribute chapters, articles, and insights to textbooks, journals, and niche publications like The Syncopated Times.
In the classroom, Brian is a force of creativity and authenticity. Whether he’s guiding students through the art of Media Performance, the craft of Multimedia Writing, or the cultural impact explored in 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 like Artificial Intelligence in CommunicationԻ Contemporary Media Literacy, ensuring that students understand today’s media landscape and are prepared to lead it into tomorrow. His course Mindful Communication—a student favorite—blends 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., Ƶapp University (1987)
- M.A., 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
- “Finding Stories” In Vincent Filak’s (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.
- “From the Tatami Mat to the Printed Page: Author Barry Eisler & His Fiction.” In Michael DeMarco’s (Ed.), Asian Martial Arts: Constructive Thoughts and Practical Applications. Via Media Publishing, 2016)
- “America in the Thirties (America in the Twentieth Century Series)” by John Olzowka, Marnie Sullivan, Brian R. Sheridan, and Dennis Hickey. (Syracuse University Press, 2014)
- “A Picture Palace Transformed: How Erie’s Warner Theater Survived A Changing World” by Barb Hauck, Brian Sheridan, and Art Becker (Erie Civic Center Authority Publication, 2009).
- Various articles in publications “The Syncopated Times” and “Lake Erie Lifestyle"