James Castonguay

President-Elect, 2025 – 2027

Jim Castonguay

Biography

Jim Castonguay is Professor of Communication and Media Studies; Director of the School of Communication, Media & the Arts; and Associate Dean in the College of Arts & Sciences at Sacred Heart University. After completing his Ph.D. from UW-Milwaukee in 1998, Castonguay was a visiting assistant professor at the University of Michigan before joining SHU, where he served as chair of the department of media studies and digital culture and director of film and media graduate programs before becoming the founding director of SCMA in 2015.

Degrees

Ph.D., English (Modern Studies), UW-Milwaukee
M.A., English (Modern Studies), UW-Milwaukee
B.A., Screen Studies and Sociology, Clark University

Teaching & Research Interests

War and media, film history, emerging media, television studies, media literacy

Selected Publications & Works

"Virtual Reality, Empathy, Solidarity: Immersive Media Literacy and Social Justice Activism." Media Literacy, Equity, and Justice. Ed. Belinha De Abreu. Routledge, 2023.
Castonguay, James. "Fictions of Terror: Complexity, Complicity and Insecurity in Homeland.” Cinema Journal 54.4 (2015).
“Myrna Loy and William Powell: The Perfect Screen Couple.” Glamour in a Golden Age: Movie Stars of the 1930s. Ed. Adrienne McLean. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 2011.
"The Spanish-American War in U.S. Media Culture." Hollywood and War: The Film Reader. Ed. J. David Slocum. New York: Routledge, 2006.
Castonguay, James. "Conglomeration, New Media, and the Cultural Production of the ‘War on Terror.’” Cinema Journal 43.4 (2004).

Other Activities & Awards

Executive Producer and Producer, Flyway of Life (feature documentary). Silent Flight Studios, 2025.
Consulting Producer, Stolen Lives (feature documentary). BangBangTeo/Screen Ireland/RTE, 2025.
Principal Investigator, Press Forward Pooled Grant for “Closing the Local News Coverage Gap,” 2024.
News Director and Executive Editor, Easton Courier and Fairfield County News. Fairfield, CT.
SCMS Distinguished Service Award, 2009
Dr. Marian Calabrese Teaching Award, Sacred Heart U, 2005.

SCMS Board & Committee Service

President-Elect, 2025-2027
Program Committee (2026 Chicago)
Investment Committee, 2019-2021
Executive Director Search Committee, 2014
Treasurer, 2011-2013
Administrative Officer to ACLS, 2011-2013
Chair, Media Literacy and Outreach Committee/Interest Group, 2002-2010
Information Technology Officer, 1999-2002
Chair, Information Technology Committee, 1999 -2002
Website maintenance, 1997-2006