James Richardson

James Richardson is a tenured Associate Professor of New Media Technology at LaGuardia Community College, and the Interim Academic Director of the Communication and Media Program at the CUNY -School of Professional Studies. James holds a Master of Professional Studies (MPS) from the Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP) at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. His degree from ITP trained him in various aspects of Internet technology, gaming design, digital audio/video production, e-commerce strategy, and web development. To this day he still maintains deep connections with ITP and acts as a graduate thesis advisor when time permits.

Prior to transitioning to academia, James worked in the fields of Information Technology and Interactive Digital Media. His early professional career was cultivated at MetLife where he worked as a project manager in the telecommunications division, implementing voice and data technology to support MetLife’s various lines of business. After more than a decade, James left MetLife and joined the management consulting firm, ARC, which instructed Fortune 500 companies on how to migrate their business models from brick-and-mortar operations to the Internet. During this period, James oversaw initiatives for companies such as Suze Orman Inc. and ADP, the nation’s leading payroll processing company.

As an educator and industry professional, James has led Higher-Ed initiatives in both traditional and online environments. With nearly 40 years of experience in managing all aspects of technology-based projects, the focus of his academic research has been in the areas of student motivation (particularly for at-risk populations), reforming digital scholarship for emerging technical disciplines within higher education, and developing interactive applications to help motivate African American and other urban youth find their voice in the information age. James is extremely committed in developing online educational support structures to promote effective remote learning outcomes for students, programs, and institutions.

Outside of his professional life, James is member of the team at New York Cine Radio, the independent filmmaking and podcasting organization responsible for the New York Cine Radio Podcast as well as the award-winning documentaries, VHS Massacre and VHS Massacre Too. When he is not teaching, James can be found either attending regional Comic-Cons with his family or engaging in drone and VR/360 videography.

Visit James' personal website.