David Whitt, Ph.D.

Professor of Communication
Department
Communication Studies
Office location

Smith-Curtis 330C

Office hours

 

 

Email
dfw [at] NebrWesleyan.edu

Knowledge is good.
- Emil Faber

Education

B.S. Wayne State College 1989
M.A. University of Nebraska-Lincoln 1991
Ph.D. University of Nebraska-Lincoln 2002

Courses taught

COMM 1250 - Introduction to Communication Studies
COMM 2600 - Mass Media
COMM 3200 - Persuasion
COMM 4100 - Communication in the Professions
IDS 1010 - Not Just Kids' Stuff: Comic Books and Popular Culture

Research and academic interests

Books:

- Perlich, J. & Whitt, D. (2024) The Disney+ Kingdom: Essays on Nostalgia, Representation and Branding. McFarland & Company.

- Whitt, D. (2020). Popular Music in the Classroom: Essays for Instructors. McFarland & Company.

- Whitt, D. & Perlich, J. (2014). Myth in the Modern World: Essays on Intersections with Ideology and Culture. McFarland & Company.

- Perlich, J. & Whitt, D. (2010). Millennial Mythmaking: Essays on the Power of Science Fiction and
Fantasy Literature, Films, and Games.
 McFarland & Company.

- Whitt, D. & Perlich, J. (2008). Sith, Slayers, Stargates and Cyborgs: Modern Mythology in the New
Millennium
. New York: Peter Lang.

Other Publications:

- Whitt, D. (2013). "Whatever you do, don't blink!": Gothic Horror and the Weeping Angels Trilogy." In
G.Leitch (Ed.). Doctor Who in Time and Space: Essays on Themes, Characters, History and Fandom,
1963-2012.
Jefferson, NC: McFarland.

- Whitt, D. (2013). "I can get college credit for reading Batman? That's a joke right?": Confessions of a
Fanboy Professor Teaching Comic Books. In C.K. Syma & Rr. Weiner (Eds.). Graphic Novels and
Comics in the Classroom: Essays on the Educational Power of Sequential Art
. Jefferson, NC:
McFarland.

- Charney, C. & Whitt, D. (September, 2014). "Music as a medium to engage students." The Scholarly Teacher.

Research Interests: Film, TV, Music & Popular Culture

Other Links: 

2018 NWU article on U2 conference attended in Belfast, Northern Ireland: https://www.nebrwesleyan.edu/about-nwu/news-center/research-takes-stude…

2017 Jacobs Media Strategies The Guest List: 5 Reasons Why It's Important to Teach Popular Music History. https://jacobsmedia.com/5-reasons-why-its-important-to-teach-popular-mu…

2015 TEDx Lincoln Speaker with Karla Jensen "Happiness is Serious Business"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icOjqAbY6NQ

2012 NWU Communication Professor is First American to Judge Croatian Film Festival https://www.nebrwesleyan.edu/about-nwu/news-center/nwu-communication-pr…

Other Interests:

Co-host 80s Music Podcast Welcome to the Boomtown https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/boomtownpodcast. The podcast can also be found on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Player FM, iHeart Radio, Google Podcasts, Gaana, Boomplay, and Deezer. 

 

 

Professional and community affiliations, certifications and awards

2022 Ameritas Faculty Fellowship

2018-2019 NWU Exemplary Teacher Award https://www.nebrwesleyan.edu/about-nwu/news-center/communication-studie…;

2014 Wayne State College School of Arts & Humanities Outstanding Alumnus Award

2014 NWU Faculty Scholarship Presentation Award

2012 Top Paper Presentation Award Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) Conference,
Taichung, Taiwan. From Guthrie to Dylan to Springsteen: Using Music Videos on YouTube to
Teach ESL Students American History and Culture.