My name is Brian McFadden and I’m a media studies educator currently working as an Assistant Professor at Hofstra University’s Lawrence Herbert School of Communication, where I teach courses on Media History, Media Literacy, Media Theory, Media Research Methods, Media & Popular Culture, and Sports, Media, and Culture within the Journalism, Media Studies, and Public Relations department. My general pedagogical approach aims to create and foster a learning environment where students can learn about these subjects through discourse, debate, and conversation.
Beyond a commitment to learning about and implementing instructive pedagogical practices in my classes, my general research interests reside within the realm of digital communities. Specifically, I am interested in learning about the varied ways we present self on social platforms and how these performances inform the un/acceptable norms for behavior on each social platform. My other research interests are sports culture and sports media, reality television, and pop culture writ large.
In addition to my teaching and research work, I serve on a number of committees, including Hofstra’s University Senate, advising The Hofstra Chronicle and the Hofstra Sports Networking Club (HSNC), and the New York State Communication Association.
Please feel free to contact me with any inquiries or general feedback. I welcome most conversations and would enjoy the opportunity to connect!
Select Student Feedback
Professor McFadden has been an amazing Professor. He teaches this class through open discussion and brings up very meaningful questions. I love that he always brings up some sort of interesting point or question that I did not think of during the discussion. He is always a positive spirit– I’ve never seen someone so positive all the time. He lifted my spirits every time I came to class. Professor McFadden is clearly extremely knowledgeable in media and really ties in my love for sports into his discussions. I think that is why McFadden and this class are such an appeal and is the reason we all enjoyed it so much. I honestly can’t imagine anyone having a bad thing to say about Professor McFadden. Nicest man and one of the coolest/best Professors I’ve had in college. Please keep him here.
Sports, Media, and Culture, Spring 2022
I can’t express how much I truly enjoyed this course. Unlike most teachers that lecture at students and hope that they grasp concepts, you really allow us to digest the content while encouraging meaningful conversations with informative […] slides. You meet all students where they’re at in terms of sports knowledge which enables students to feel comfortable sharing their thoughts — even if limited. You can tell that the course is well received and that the content is based on timely, and historical events, based on class participation. This is probably the first class I’ve had that truly encourages discussion and is a safe space for differing opinions. This course has really add[ed] to the way I think about how sports, media, and culture intersect. Brian’s effectiveness as a professor is unparalleled.
Sports, Media, and Culture, Spring 2022
The class itself was very interesting as it had content that was not only informational but interesting as it dealt with current culture. [T]his class has been by far my favorite class at Hofstra [to] date. [T]he teacher made [the class], through his delivery style, something to look forward to. Brian is extremely passionate about what he teaches and makes this class a mutual-learning experience. Not only does he teach us new things pertaining to Media Literacy, but he makes it [possible that] the students have a voice and are able to teach new things to the rest of the class and himself as well. Brian is also very understanding and helpful when it comes to … assignments. When asked a question or to review assignments before they [a]re turned in, he is glad to do so and also gives valuable feedback. … Overall, I think that this class was amazing. It wasn’t one that added to the stress of the semester, but one that was almost an outlet. The class was a safe-space for me through the discussions and the attitude of the professor. I would definitely take another class with Brian in the future!
Media Literacy, Fall 2021
Professor McFadden is a phenomenal professor who truly cares about his students. Everything he does and every assignment he creates is to enhance the learning experience and not just busywork. He also is completely understanding of life’s complications. If something is going on in one of his student’s lives, he will not only be there for the student but will give any academic help he can (such as extensions on projects). He also works hand in hand with the students. He will read our work and talk things through with us before we hand in the assignments to make sure we have a proper understanding of the content
Media Theory, Spring 2021
Best professor at Hofstra. Not only is he kind and super cool but he knows what he is talking about. The amount of student engagement he receives is off the charts. Not only does he teach us a whole lot, but he gives his students so many opportunities to teach each other stuff and to feel like we have a voice that matters. I will miss this class
Media Literacy, Spring 2021
Professor McFadden is my favorite professor every semester!! I have a fear of long papers, and this class made me confident in the possibility of writing a research paper/independent study by taking us step by step through it. Every major should have a class like this. There’s a reason I selected him as my independent study advisor, getting to focus on a topic I love made me more passionate about my major.
Media Research Methods,Spring 2021
I cannot even begin to explain how much I adore Brian as a professor. As I head into the second semester of my senior year, he has been the most fun and supportive professor I have had in the past three and a half years. He constantly encourages student participation, but not just in the fashion that he simply listens to us. He listens and responds. We are actually able to have a proper rapport with him about anything and have that relate back into the course lecture of the day. Unlike many of my discussion-based class, Brian is excited about what the students are able to bring to the table and in return, we, the students, are excited about the material. I honestly wish that I could take this course again and am sad I wasn’t able to take it sooner. Brian’s style of teaching is truly catered to the students and their likings which I could not even begin to be grateful for. Commenting on the workload, I think this course provided the students with just enough assignments that have contributed greatly to the learning process as they delve deeply into the content of the course through our own exploration and realization. It was just the right amount of work, especially in this strange adjustment period brought on by the pandemic.
Media Literacy, Fall 2020
Brian is truly one of the most amazing professors I have had during my time at Hofstra, and genuinely one of the only reasons that I don’t regret every decision I made at this university. Brian is exceedingly brilliant, kind, patient, understanding, passionate, intelligent, and all around amazing. It is insane to me that he does not win teacher of the year every single year because he simply deserves it more than anyone else on the planet. This course was so vastly interesting, and I gleaned so much information of it regarding how pop culture effects and mimics our daily lives. I loved doing my pop talk, although stressed, it was a lot of fun to research, compile research, and present a topic that I was really passionate about, and to be connected with students who were passionate about the same topic. Writing my final paper has also been incredibly eye-opening and entertaining, because I’ve been able to look at something I’ve actively participated in through brand new eyes. Every moment of this course was amazing, every assignment incredible, and every class session enlightening.
Media & Popular Culture, Fall 2020
I loved this class so much. Prof McFadden is an AWESOME teacher. He was so great, I switched my entire spring semester around so I could take his Media Literacy Course. He made this class so interesting and overall the best professor/teacher I’ve had not only in College but probably my entire academic career. I really appreciate how he helped us get involved in the school of Comm through speakers. I joined WRHU because of a speaker from his class. Overall I can’t say enough good things about Prof. McFadden and this course to truly tell you how enjoyable it was. I absolutely loved this course.
Media History, Fall 2020
Brian McFadden 