Richard West (Ph.D., Ohio University, 1991) is Professor of Communication Studies at Emerson College. He received his BA and MA in Communication at Illinois State University.

Rich is the co-author (with Lynn Turner) of several leading books in communication (Perspectives on Family Communication/4^th ed; Interpersonal Communication/2^nd ed; IPC/1^st ed; Introducing Communication Theory/5^th ed; Gender and Communication/3^rd ed;) and served as co-editor of the Sage Sourcebook of Family Communication. He is the author/co-author of over 40 articles and essays and he has participated in over 100 NCA programs. Rich's work has appeared in Communication Quarterly, Communication Education, Qualitative Research Reports in Communication, Communication Reports, Journal of Family Communication, among others. He has served as Guest Co-Editor of the Journal of Family Communication twice and has been a member of nearly 10 journal editorial boards in communication.

Rich's work intersects family, identity, and culture. Yet, he admits to being somewhat of a 'scholarly nomad, ' exploring a number of different topics, including gay parenting, holiday stress, student questions in the classroom, job burnout, among other areas.

Rich is the recipient of several recognitions, including Outstanding Alumni in Communication awards from both Illinois State University and Ohio University. ISU has also recognized him as a "Distinguished Alum" in Forensics and as an "Outstanding Alum in Teacher Education." He has also been recognized as an ECA Research Fellow and was the recipient of ECA's Past President's Award. In 2012, the Communication Institute for Online Scholarship named him a "Leading Scholar in Communication Education."