Dr. Richard M. Perloff is Distinguished Professor of Communication, Psychology, and Political Science at Cleveland State University. Perloff is nationally known for his scholarship on persuasion, political media, and perceptions of media bias. His book, The Dynamics of Persuasion: Communication and Attitudes in the 21^st century (8^th edition, Routledge, New York), is a classic in the social science field. Professor Perloff has also written scholarly books on political communication (The Dynamics of Political Communication: Media and Politics in a Digital Age, 4^th edition), news, and HIV/AIDS and persuasion.

Dr. Perloff has also published major milestone review articles of important mass communication concepts, such as the third-person effect and agenda-setting; theoretical articles on communication theory, and social media’s impact on gender roles; and many journal articles and academic book chapters. In honor of his work in the theory area, he received the international 2014 University of Amsterdam School of Communication Research award for the best article advancing communication theory.

Extending his scholarship outside academia, Perloff has written dozens of letters to the editor to The New York Times that apply communication scholarship to contemporary issues and an op ed piece on the 50^th anniversary of the Kent State University May 4 shootings that appeared in The Times on May 4, 2020. Moved by the Kent State tragedy and its more hopeful aftermath, Perloff wrote a feature on the 40^th anniversary of the May 4 shootings that appeared in Cleveland Scene in 2010. He has also written features for Cleveland Scene on wheelchair basketball and forThe Cleveland Jewish News on issues spanning Adolf Eichmann, rabbis, and couples’ romance, as well as many op ed essays for The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer on issues encompassing politics, history, and health that have received journalism awards.

Perloff came to Cleveland State in 1979, enticed by its excellent communication department and faculty. He received his undergraduate degree in philosophy from the University of Michigan, where he was also an editorial director of The Michigan Daily; a Master’s in communication from the University of Pittsburgh; a Ph.D. in mass communications from the University of Wisconsin-Madison; and a postdoctoral fellowship in social psychology and communication from Ohio State. In short, he attended a lot of classes at different universities! 

Professor Perloff is a dedicated teacher, gaining great fulfillment from teaching courses in persuasion, political communication, and news where he can engage with students, enjoy the repartee, and expand their thinking in new directions, while also benefitting from his students’ enthusiasm and perspectives.