Bill Shewbridge

Bill Shewbridge is a Professor in the Media and Communication Studies program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). He teaches courses in intercultural media, digital storytelling, television production, and documentary filmmaking. As the Executive Producer and Founding Director of UMBC’s New Media Studio, he focuses on media production, advancing media literacy, and exploring new technologies for learning. Over the past decade, he has collaborated with Maryland Traditions to document Maryland folklife.

• Digital Storytelling Initiative: Spearheads UMBC’s initiative to integrate digital literacy across the curriculum through community-based projects.
• Baltimore Traces Project: Co-directs this long-term collaborative teaching innovation with Dr. Nicole King, connecting interdisciplinary UMBC classes to create media about Baltimore residents and neighborhoods.

Affiliations: Affiliate faculty member in the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics and Intercultural Communication, as well as the Department of Language, Literacy and Culture. He has also taught classes in history, education, and visual arts.

Leadership Roles: Serves on the organizing committee of the International Digital Storytelling Conference and the executive committee of the Paris Ethnografilm Festival.

• Education:
  • B.A. in History (UMBC)
  • M.S. in Instructional Design (Towson University)
  • Certificate in Environmental Studies (Johns Hopkins University)
  • Doctorate in Communication Design (University of Baltimore)

Research Interests: His work bridges media production, digital storytelling, and community engagement, emphasizing media literacy and the use of technology for educational innovation. He has focused on documenting cultural heritage through collaborative, interdisciplinary projects like Baltimore Traces.