Andrew W. Ishak

Andrew W. Ishak is a Teaching Professor of Communication at Santa Clara University's College of Arts and Sciences. He holds a B.S. from UC Davis, an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin. His work bridges academic research with creative filmmaking, focusing on cultural identity in Coptic Orthodox communities and communication dynamics in sports and critical teams.

• Education:
  • B.S. Managerial Economics, UC Davis (2004)
  • M.A. Advertising, UT Austin (2005)
  • Ph.D. Communication Studies, UT Austin (2012)

Research interests include communication in lifesaving teams (e.g., fire crews, EMS), sports team dynamics, and media production. He created the film series Abouna exploring Coptic American identity and directed documentaries like Shots in the Dark. His films often blend academic inquiry with storytelling.

Recent articles emphasize sports communication, organizational resilience (e.g., post-disaster team learning), and rhetorical analysis of athletic recruitment practices. Courses taught include Public Speaking, Qualitative Research Methods, and Communication & Sport.

He currently serves as Faculty Athletics Representative at SCU and previously directed the Undergraduate Core Curriculum (2021–2024). Active in athletics administration and teaching, he also runs a basketball league and designs disc golf courses.