Meet Dr. Wheeler!
Dr. Wheeler, a native of Annapolis, MD, joined the Political Science Department and Communication Program in Fall 2022. He comes to Providence College with a broad approach to the study of communication and innovative teaching methods. After teaching while finishing his PhD at the ASPECT (Alliance for Social, Political, Ethical, and Cultural Thought) program at Virginia Tech, Dr. Wheeler decided to pursue an academic career. He explores the relationship between media, culture, and politics through his research and teaching interests. Given Dr. Wheeler’s interdisciplinary background, he enjoys Providence College’s emphasis on liberal arts and educating the whole person. His classes are often highly participatory, discussion-based, and student-led. Dr. Wheeler appreciates that Providence College students are dedicated to their studies and the College as a whole.
This fall, Dr. Wheeler is teaching Introduction to Communication, which includes a project that allows students to design a themed environment that uses media to convey a particular message. In the Political Science Department, Dr. Wheeler is teaching Mass Media and Politics, which is cross-listed with American Studies. The class focuses on more traditional media sources, but also on social media that has permeated modern society. Dr. Wheeler innovatively presents the topic as a historical narrative, beginning with the invention of the printing press and ending in the modern day.
When Dr. Wheeler is not teaching, he conducts research that relates class polarization, as determined by education levels, to the changing demographics of Democratic voters beginning in the 1970s. His research examines how the party used the media to emphasize political issues, particularly environmental politics, to attract a new demographic of voters. Dr. Wheeler enjoys the creative aspects of exploring political and cultural issues. As a result, he uses the broad lenses the social sciences provide to examine media. For students considering a career in academia, Dr. Wheeler encourages students to follow a similar path: find out what aspects of their studies interest them. Dr. Wheeler’s passion for politics and media carries into his teaching, which makes his classes fulfilling for students.
Written by Christina Charie
