Adam Christopher Earnheardt is an American academic and author, sports and communication researcher, and social media critic. He is professor and former chair of the Department of Communication at Youngstown State University, located in Youngstown, Ohio."Youngstown woman responds to Facebook fight challenge" . Vindicator, September 9, 2014 He researches the effects of communication devices and social media on society,"Are mobile devices broadcasting too much information?". WKBN 27, By Amanda Smith Published: October 14, 2014 and studies the media uses and psychology of sports fans and families."The psychology of sports: Why do fans care so much?". Canton Repository."Patriots fans and the dark side of social media". CNET, January 25, by Terry Collins Earnheardt was a columnist with Mahoning Matters, a news outlet with the Google-McClatchy Compass Project where he wrote about family and parenting during the COVID-19 pandemic."COVID-19 reaches The Earnheardts". Mahoning Matters, February 8, 2021"How we family in a pandemic". Mahoning Matters, March 23, 2020 Earnheardt was a weekly columnist for The Vindicator and Tribune Chronicle newspapers from 2014 to 2021, where he focused on the impact of technology and media on relationships and society."When your child is a cyberbully". The Vindicator, March 7, 2018"Eating Tide Pods is a silly and dangerous internet challenge". The Vindicator, February 25, 2018 Since 2022, he's continued to work at Youngstown State University in a coordinator role.
Early life and education Earnheardt was born in Killeen, Texas, in 1970 and grew up in Brackenridge, Pennsylvania. He attended Cheswick Christian Academy in Cheswick, Pennsylvania, and then Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, New York, "YSU’s Earnheardt talks social media with Curbstone Coaches" | The Vindicator] for three years before earning a Bachelor of Science degree and Master of Science degree in communication at Clarion University of Pennsylvania, and a Doctorate of Philosophy degree in communication studies at Kent State University where he received the Outstanding Dissertation Award in 2007.
Career In 2012, Earnheardt was named chair of the department of communication at Youngstown State. Earnheardt has co-authored several articles and books on the subject of communication, relationships, sports, media and fan behavior. He has published a number of articles about fan attachment and the effects of social media on fandom, is frequently quoted in the media on this subject,"The heartbreak of what might have been". Baltimore Sun, January 23, 2012 By Jean Marabella"Patriots fans and the dark side of social media". CNET, January 25, 2016 By Terry Collins delivers talks on the role of sports in society,"Sports are ultimately about community, lecturer says". Daily Texan, February 5, 2018 By Savannah Jobman"Rams target millennials as they try to expand their reach in Southern California". L.A. Times, August 19, 2016 By Gary Klein and is called on to advise issues related to social media and technology."Online EMP threats are false and here is why" . WKRN, November 2, 2017 By Dave Sess"Do smartphones make us dumb? Study says they drain our brains". WYTV, November 16, 2017 By Lindsey Watson He was interviewed for the ViceTV docuseries The Dark Side of Football for an episode which focused on fandom and the National Football League."The Dark Side of Football: Fanastics". ViceTV, June 17, 2021
Earnheardt has interviewed notable individuals invited to lecture as part of the Youngstown State University Skeggs Lecture Series. In 2016, he interviewed former New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly,"Ray Kelly Promotes His Memoir at Skeggs Lecture" | The Business Journal and in 2017, he interviewed author Margaret Atwood as part of the lecture series.
Honors and awards Earnheardt was presented with the Diversity Leadership Award in 2016."YSU diversity awards announced" . The Vindicator, March 21, 2016 By Denise Dick In 2012, he received the Smith-Murphy Award for Outstanding Teaching, as well as a Young Professional Award from Kent State University."Centennial Award Celebration Recipients - Past recipients" | Kent State University. In 2009, he was recognized as one of the top 40 young professionals under the age of 40 by the MVP 20/30 Club, and then recognized as one of the "Top 5" MVPs from the group of 40. The award is given to residents in the Youngstown, Ohio area who have excelled in their professions and have demonstrated a commitment to community involvement."MVP Titles Awarded to 5 Young Professionals" | The Business Journal. Also in 2009, Earnheardt received the Distinguished Professor for Public Service.
Published works
"Absurd but true: Safeco Field fans love the Mariners’ hydro races". Seattle Times, July 7, 2015"United we boom". Spokesman-Review, FEB. 1, 2015, By Paul Turner
References
External links https://web.archive.org/web/20121108070638/http://web.ysu.edu/gen/fpa/Department_Chair_m61.html https://web.archive.org/web/20160304185805/http://web.ysu.edu/gen/fpa/Dr_Adam_Earnheardt_m190.html