ISSUED: 5 February 2025
MEDIA CONTACT: Hans Fogle
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — Dr. Matthew Kushin, professor of communication at Shepherd University, is a finalist for the Faculty Merit Foundation 2024 West Virginia Professor of the Year award, marking the fourth consecutive year a Shepherd professor has been among the finalists.
Kushin is an award-winning educator, author, and blogger who assists other social media educators in building engaging classes that prepare the next generation of professional communicators.
One of his publications includes the 2019 book “Teach Social Media: A Plan for Creating a Course Your Students Will Love.”
In addition to teaching classes at Shepherd, Kushin is the concentration coordinator for Shepherd’s strategic communication program and serves as a senior fellow for the Bonnie and Bill Stubblefield Institute for Civil Political Communication.
Kushin has been a faculty member at Shepherd University since the fall of 2012.
He has taught various courses including Politics and Social Media, Principles of PR, Persuasion and Message Design, Communication Theories, Writing Across Platforms, and Public Speaking.
Beyond Kushin’s research on social media and politics — which he has presented to audiences internationally through the United States State Department — he has developed a recent interest in self-regulation and metacognition as it relates to mindfulness.
His most recent publication, the young adult novel “Beware the Smart Kids” (2024), was written in response to the mental health crisis and explores the human experience of finding and defining happiness.
Since the novel’s publication in October 2024, Kushin has hosted various promotional events including trips to West Virginia high schools, where he talked about the novel’s message and its relation to the mental health crisis.
The Faculty Merit Foundation was established in 1984 and aims to reward and recognize West Virginian faculty.
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