Rate My Professor Riley Richards

Riley Richards, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Communication in the College of Health, Arts, and Sciences at Oregon Institute of Technology, located on the Klamath Falls campus. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Communication from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, completed in August 2021, and a Master of Arts in Communication from Western Michigan University, earned in May 2016. Joining Oregon Tech in 2021, Richards has quickly advanced his tenure-track career through rigorous scholarship and innovative teaching. Initially employing formal lecturing methods, he adapted to the institution's polytechnic emphasis by implementing activity-based, student-led discussions and project-oriented approaches that align with hands-on learning. His commitment to research productivity is evident in his receipt of the 2022 Oregon Tech Foundation Rising Faculty Scholar Award, recognizing significant achievements in publications, grants, and creative works that enhance the university's reputation.

Richards specializes in interpersonal communication within romantic and sexual relationships, with key research interests including mediated communication, human-machine communication, social presence theory, mobile and social media applications like Snapchat, social robotics, and financial literacy communication between couples. His peer-reviewed publications include 'The Multimodal Nature of Snapchat in Close Relationships: Toward a Social Presence-Based Theoretical Framework' (Computers in Human Behavior, 2020, with J.A. Kahlow and M.C. Coker, 60 citations); 'Human-Machine Communication Scholarship Trends: An Examination of Research from 2011 to 2021 in Communication Journals' (Human-Machine Communication, 2022, with P.R. Spence and C.C. Edwards, 40 citations); 'Effects of Mediated Communication on Conflict Behavior, Resolution, and Affect in Romantic Couples' (Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 2021, with E.K. Ruppel et al.); 'Exploration of Relational Factors and the Likelihood of a Sexual Robotic Experience' (2016 conference paper, 40 citations); and 'Where Do We Go From Here? A 37-Year (1986-2022) Content Analysis of the Northwest Journal of Communication' (Northwest Journal of Communication, 2024, with students M. Lee, M.L. Miranda, and J. Potts). With over 114 citations across platforms, Richards influences the field through empirical studies on technology's role in relationships. He serves on the Faculty Senate, University Research Committee (co-chair 2022-2025), and Elections Committee, while co-facilitating research roundtables, proposing faculty writing groups, and mentoring undergraduates in publishing scholarly analyses.