Dana Sperry

Dana Sperry is a Professor in the Digital Media program at the Cliffe College of Creative Arts, Youngstown State University. An interdisciplinary digital media artist, his work critically examines states of loneliness and isolation within modern post-industrial society, alongside the distortion and simplification of historical value structures through contemporary cultural lenses.

His academic credentials include:

• 2024: Graduate Certificate in Data Analytics, Youngstown State University
• 2001: M.F.A. in Sculpture, Indiana University
• 1995: B.F.A. in Studio Art, Southern Methodist University
• 1995: B.A. in Philosophy, Southern Methodist University

Sperry's research investigates expressive data visualizations, audio walks, and video art as vehicles for exploring contemporary remoteness. His practice connects historical events like the 1877 Railroad Strike with current societal issues through site-specific digital interventions, examining how technological advancement reshapes human connection and historical memory in deindustrialized contexts. Philosophical frameworks from his dual undergraduate background inform his critical approach to value systems in digital culture.

His recent intellectual output demonstrates a cohesive trajectory merging historical research with innovative digital storytelling techniques. Projects consistently bridge temporal divides—linking 19th-century labor movements with autonomous vehicle technology or courtroom procedures with artistic observation—through audio-visual media that challenge passive consumption of history and social structures.

His recognition includes:

• Distinguished Professorship Award: Service (Youngstown State University, 2022)

Sperry maintains an extensive exhibition history across major international venues including New York, Chicago, Paris, Moscow, Amsterdam, Rome, Spain, Brazil, India, and Israel, though specific student mentorship or grant activities are not documented in available sources. His creative practice operates at the intersection of academic research and public engagement without dedicated lab structures.