David Eshelman

Dr. David Eshelman serves as Professor and Head of the Department of Communication and Media Studies within Arkansas Tech University's College of Arts and Humanities, where he also founded the Arkansas Radio Theatre initiative.

His academic credentials include:

• BA from Case Western Reserve University
• MFA from The University of Texas at Austin
• PhD from University of Missouri-Columbia

Eshelman's creative scholarship centers on playwriting and audio theatre innovation, with documented expertise in new play development, contemporary drama, and French-English translation. His founding of the Arkansas Radio Theatre in 2007 established a dedicated platform for audio performance that bridges academic training with public engagement through new works and literary adaptations.

Key recognition includes the 2018 Arkansas Humanities Council Grant for his musical 'Helaine and the Little War' at Little Rock's Old State House Museum, following its inclusion in TheatreSquared's 2016 Arkansas New Play Festival.

As an educator, he directs departmental strategy while teaching Acting Theories/Techniques (TH 2703) and supervising journalism/theatre internships (JOUR/TH 4091-4094), providing students with hands-on production experience through the Radio Theatre's ongoing projects.

The Arkansas Radio Theatre remains his primary creative outlet, operating as both an educational resource and professional production entity with its digital hub at blogs.atu.edu/radiotheatre, continuing to develop original audio content that showcases student and community collaboration.