Bio
Richard A. Lee is an assistant professor in the Russell J. Jandoli School of Journalism and Mass Communication at St. Bonaventure University near Olean, N.Y. He teaches Writing and Reporting, Journalism as Literature, Persuasive Writing, and Politics and Economics of the Media.
Rich, who has 30 years of professional experience in journalism and public relations, previously served as Director of Communications for the Hall Institute of Public Policy – New Jersey. At the Hall Institute, he was responsible for media relations and all promotional and marketing activities. He also conducted research and wrote papers for the institute, focusing on media, government and politics.
Prior to joining the Hall Institute, Rich was a Deputy Director of Communications in the New Jersey Governor’s Office, where he wrote and edited material for the Governor and assisted with the supervision of the Communications Department. He previously served as a Public Information Officer for the New Jersey General Assembly and the Township of Woodbridge.
As a journalist, Rich held a variety of jobs ranging from political reporter to rock music critic. He worked at daily and weekly newspapers as well as an entertainment news-magazine, and his freelance articles appeared in a variety of publications. While working as State House Correspondent for The News Tribune of Woodbridge, he was awarded first place in the New Jersey Press Association’s 1987 Better News Contest in the Interpretive Writing Category.
Rich, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in Media Studies at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, holds an M.A. from Montclair State University and a B.A. from Saint Bonaventure University. He has served as an Adjunct Instructor at Rutgers University and Mercer County Community College, teaching courses in media, government and communication. In 2010, he taught a five-week Media and Elections course at John Cabot University in Rome, Italy.
Rich is the author of a chapter on the impact of protest music during the Vietnam War era for War and the Media: Essays on News Reporting, Propaganda and Popular Culture, a book published by McFarland & Company in September 2009.
A resident of Olean, N.Y., Rich and his wife Anne, a former journalist who also teaches at Saint Bonaventure and serves as the school’s assistant registrar, have two grown daughters. Meredith, 29, is a grants writer (institutional relations) for Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, and Jessi, 25, is an optometry student at Nova Southeastern University in Davie, Florida.
