Classroom meets comedy with LHU alumnus and professor

by Kerri Hover Editor-in-Chief

Teachers always seek new ways to interact with students in the classroom; however, Lock Haven University (LHU) professor and alumnus Matthew McKeague believes he’s cracked the code to student engagement through the use of comedy.

McKeague, a 2006 LHU graduate, returned to teach at his alma mater in 2020 and currently serves as the university’s sole Media and Journalism professor.

He predominantly instructs electronic media and production-based courses such as Video Workshop, TV Journalism, and Media Aesthetics. However, his versatile background also allows him to teach other mass communication classes including Principles of Advertising, Comedy Seminar, and Media Law.

Among his classes, McKeague’s favorite course to teach is Digital Video Editing. He particularly enjoys watching his students strengthen their skills and creativity throughout the semester.

“I can see students at the start of the semester with zero knowledge and a great deal of fear in how to operate these complex software packages,” McKeague said. “And then in a span of a couple weeks, they are able to produce video content in the same software that professionals use to make full-length feature films. So I get to see students take a journey.”

In addition to video production, McKeague has a soft spot for comedy. He became engrossed by comedic media at the age of two and recounts memorizing British comedy on PBS during his childhood. According to McKeague, comedians Monty Python and Benny Hill fueled his interest in the media genre.

“That comedy group’s style was unlike anything I saw on American TV,” he said, referring to Monty Python. “It was absurd to the max. And even though they were using words that went above my head, it blew my mind that adults could be this silly. Those groups gave me the comedic bug of trying to make people laugh.”

McKeague’s love for comedy continued to flourish throughout his adolescence and young adult life. He began writing stories and produced video comedy sketches out of his basement.

Even though he taught himself different media production techniques growing up, McKeague didn’t realize he could pursue a future career in mass communication until he started searching for college majors.

“When I looked through the book of potential majors at LHU and saw the word media, I thought it was a joke. I didn’t know it was a possibility,” he said. “I could get a variety of skills from journalism to public relations to video production – all in one major – with a small class size. And I thought ‘that’s perfect.’”

McKeague knew he wanted to become a professor during his first day of college: “After seeing all of these passionate, fun academics with practical experience, I thought that I would like to teach in higher education. I figured I could share my knowledge and teach fellow media people all of the tricks I picked up along the way.”

His passion for content creation intensified during his undergraduate years. McKeague heavily participated in three media-based extracurric- ulars. He wrote news, features, and opinion columns for The Eagle Eye student newspaper, hosted a weekly radio show, and recorded numerous broadcast comedy sketches.

“All three of those media clubs were very important because not only could I have fun, but I could also apply what I was learning in the classroom and make lots of content that helped me get jobs later on,” McKeague said.

Outside of his academics and extracurriculars, McKeague secured two paid positions as an undergraduate student. He freelanced for the local community newspaper, The Lock Haven Express, and wrote press releases for LHU’s public relations department.

Following graduation, McKeague attended Shippensburg University (SU) to earn his master’s degree in Communication and Journalism. While enrolled, he landed a graduate assistantship working in SU’s marketing department.

McKeague wrote press releases covering campus events as well as faculty and student accomplishments which were published in the university magazine and online. He also worked as a video editor for independent filmmakers on the side.

McKeague’s academic and professional career accelerated during his years at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). While obtaining his doctorate in Communication Media and Instructional Technology, McKeague secured his second graduate assistantship working as a production assistant for the university’s television studio, IUP-TV. He wrote scripts for professors, operated cameras, and ran media productions.

Even though he couldn’t entirely embed comedy into his daily responsibilities, McKeague highlighted the importance of humor usage in the media industry.

“Humor is one of the persuasive tools used in media to lighten people’s days during tough times,” he said. “Journalists and public relations specialists can also include humor with the way that they set up quotes or provide context, plus pun or wordplay is a valuable skill when writing headlines.”

After earning his doctorate, McKeague taught as an electronic media professor at Kutztown University for seven years. He took a break in between teaching to become a comedy writer and video editor in Los Angeles.

Two years later, McKeague returned to Pennsylvania and continued teaching. Although employed through another institution, McKeague remained on the lookout for open positions at LHU. He began teaching at The Haven in the fall of 2020.

“I’ve dabbled in a variety of careers that allows me to bring practical experience into the classroom,” McKeague said. “There’s pretty much no career option in media that I haven’t had some experience in. And that would all not be possible without LHU.”

As a professor, McKeague is known for his humor. He incorporates comedic concepts, that he learned as a sketch comedian and content creator, into every lecture as well as several class assignments to engage students. McKeague notes his technique to be successful because students respond favorably to it.

Freshman Communication major John Foster is one example. He enjoyed taking his first class with McKeague since switching his major last semester. Foster’s positive experience in Comedy Seminar fueled his interest in taking more classes with McKeague.

“I appreciate Dr. McKeague’s humor because it not only relates to the class lectures, but he also uses humor we understand instead of other professors who try to use outdated humor we don’t understand,” Foster said. “He makes going to class fun.”

McKeague also proves to be a fan favorite because of his care and dedication to students. Senior Communication major Dalton Fisher began taking classes with McKeague in the spring of 2021. As one of McKeague’s advisees, Fisher recognizes his efforts to help students.

“Dr. McKeague does everything in his power to make sure his students succeed,” he said. “Even if it’s not class related, McKeague cares about what his students have to say. He always makes time for them.”

McKeague’s obsession with comedy hasn’t disappeared since becoming a professor. After creating comedic content in various forms, he wanted to experiment with new genres.

McKeague published his first book, “Darker Truths: Extra Grimm Fairy Tales of Even Grimmer Existence,” in 2019. Composed of six long-form, Dr. Seuss-like poems, he sought to “cover a lot of the harsh realities adults go through but we as a society are afraid to talk about.”

By bringing humor to sensitive topics, such as depression, McKeague hoped to make readers laugh while dealing with their problems.

His second book, a 494-page novel called “Andy Gets Conned: A Nerdy Novel,” was published the following year. McKeague’s inspiration for the narrative stemmed from personal experience.

“The story I wanted to see about nerds and geeks was not in traditional media,” he said. “I didn’t see my people being portrayed in an accurate way, so I wanted to represent nerds in the way that my friends and I grew up, with a heartfelt tale.”

Along with writing books, McKeague also conducts comedy-based research. He’s advanced the field by defining what a comic triple is – a specific joke’s pattern that lists two related and coherent items along with a third unexpected item that serves as the surprising punchline – and establishing terms for a three-part joke. McKeague attributes his research ability to his unique background in both professional comedy and media studies.

“In humor studies, there’s a slight disconnect between academia and the practitioners who make comedy in the entertainment business,” he said. “I feel like I fill an interesting role where I can bring both of those groups together. I can tie the theory from humor research into the practical knowledge and bring out new learning moments.”

McKeague encourages all of his students to “embrace their weirdness,” find their voice, and avoid societal conformity.

“I feel like we live in a society where many people feel like they have to conform, but I have excelled in life by incorporating my weirdness and warped comedy into everything I do,” he said.

“It gives you an unique edge. You don’t have to be boring in this world. You can be weird. You can be different. And if you can use that weirdness to brighten a few people’s lives, like I try to do in the classroom and in my creative work, that’s even better.”