Geraldine E. Forsberg, PhD

Senior Instructor

About

Geraldine (Geri) Forsberg is a professor in the Department of English at Western Washington University, where she has dedicated more than two decades to teaching, mentoring, and scholarship. Her career reflects a deep commitment to undergraduate education, a passion for language and communication, and an enduring interest in how media and technology shape human life and culture.

Dr. Forsberg’s teaching spans a wide range of writing and communication courses. She has taught professional and technical writing, organizational communication, and ethics for over twenty years, while also guiding students in the study of literacy, media ecology, and cultural critique. She brings to the classroom not only subject expertise but also a strong dedication to mentoring students as they navigate academic, professional, and personal growth. In recent years, she has also developed and taught online courses, expanding her reach to diverse student populations.

Her scholarship examines the intersections of media, language, literacy, and culture, with a particular focus on how communication practices influence human identity and community. She has published extensively in the fields of media ecology and English education. Her recent works include Being Human in a Technological Society: A Theological Perspective (Wipf & Stock, 2025), “Change Language, Change the World: Restoring a Metanarrative” in the proceedings of the Geneva College Conference on Orality & Literacy in an Age of Social Media (2025), and “Narrative Art and Narrative Text: A Media Ecology Perspective” in Explorations in Media Ecology (2025). Earlier publications include contributions to Habits of the High-Tech Heart: Living Virtuously in the Information Age (2024, updated edition), Professing Christ: Christian Tradition and Faith-Learning Integration in Public Universities (2022), and Générations Ellul – Jacques Ellul aujourd'hui (2022).

Dr. Forsberg earned her PhD from New York University’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, with a focus on media ecology, media literacy, and language studies. Her dissertation, "Critical Thinking in an Image World: Alfred Korzybski's Theoretical Principles Extended to Critical Television Evaluation" (1991), demonstrates her long-standing interest in the connection between words, images, and critical thinking. She also holds master’s degrees in biblical literature and higher education administration, along with a graduate certificate in nonprofit management. Her academic journey began with a Bachelor of Arts in Education and Speech from Washington State University, where she graduated with honors and was inducted into Pi Lambda Theta, the international honor society and professional organization in education.

Beyond teaching and research, Dr. Forsberg actively engages in professional and scholarly communities. She is a member of the Media Ecology Association (MEA), the National Communication Association (NCA), and the Religious Communication Association (RCA). Within the International Jacques Ellul Society (IJES), she currently serves as Co-President and has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2017. She further contributes to the field as a member of the Editorial Board of New Explorations: Studies in Culture and Communication (since 2020), the Board of Directors of Second Nature: Critical Thinking about Media and Technology (since 2014), and the Board of Directors of the Christian Communication Studies Network (CCSN) since 2005.

At Western, Dr. Forsberg is a Faculty Fellow and Affiliate with Faculty Commons (since 1991). Beyond academia, she has also served faithfully with CRU, an interdenominational Christian organization, since 1975.

Throughout her career, Dr. Forsberg has demonstrated a sensitivity to cultural diversity, a passion for critical inquiry, and a deep concern for how the Word—spoken, written, and lived—shapes both individuals and communities. At Western Washington University, she continues to motivate students to think critically, write clearly, and engage the world thoughtfully during a time of significant cultural and technological change.