Edward Lordan, Ph.D.

Dr. Lordan teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in public relations, advertising, communication theory, mass communication, and sports-related communications. He serves as the advisor for the WCU chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), is a member of the university's Marketing Committee and chairs the university's Academic Recognition Committee.

Lordan's appointment to the WCU faculty in 2001 was a homecoming, since he earned his B.A. in English Literature at the university in 1979. He earned his M.A. in Communications from Temple University in 1984 and Ph.D. in Mass Communication from The S.I. Newhouse School of Communication at Syracuse University in 1990. Prior to his return to West Chester, he served on faculties at Temple University, Villanova University, and St. Louis University.

Lordan splits his writing projects between academic and professional publications. His first book, Essentials of Public Relations Management (Burnham, Inc. Publishers), is an overview of management techniques used in the public relations industry. His second book, Politics, Ink: How American Editorial Cartoonists Skewer Politicians, From King George III to George Dubya (Rowman & Littlefield Publishers) explores the history of the American editorial cartoon. His book chapter 'Cyberspin: The Use of New Technologies in Public Relations' appears in the Handbook of Public Relations (Sage Publications, Inc.). His third book, The Case for Combat: How Presidents Persuade Americans To Go To War , traces the history of presidential rhetoric across the ten major conflicts in the nation's history. It was published in 2010 by Praeger Publishers. He is currently researching a book on the history of crises in American sports, from the 1919 Black Sox scandal through Jackie Robinson's controversial first year in major league baseball to the concussion policies of the National Football League.

Lordan has published fifteen journal articles in publications such as the Newspaper Research Journal, The Journal of the Council of American Survey Research Organizations, and Public Relations Quarterly. He recently co-authored a study of video news release usage policies by American television stations, incorporating quantitative and qualitative methods. This study appeared in Journalism Practice , a European journal that examines new media issues.

For nine years he wrote a restaurant review column for the Delaware County Daily Times, and he has written theater and music commentary for a number of local publications. Lordan also serves as a consultant for non-profit and for-profit companies.

He is a member of the Association of Education in Journalism and Mass Communication and the Public Relations Society of America.

In the Summer of 2013, Dr. Lordan will be teaching an undergraduate course on the past, present and future of Irish media, accompanying a dozen students to Dublin. The following Summer, he will be team-teaching a course in international public relations with Dr. Ola Kopacz in Bialystok, Poland. Students interested in these programs are invited to get in touch to learn more.

If you are a WCU student interested in a career in public relations, advertising or any other media-related profession and would like to talk about your career, Dr. Lordan would be happy to meet with you. Contact him by e-mail (elordan@wcupa.edu), by phone (610-436-2114), or stop by his office (317 Main Hall.) Former Billikens, Wildcats, Owls or Golden Rams who want to get in contact? DEFINITELY check in - he wants to know what you're doing.