Andrew J. Wilson, Ph.D.

Games, Culture and Emerging Media
Quantitative Research Methods
Interpersonal Communication

Ph.D. in Communication and Media Studies, University of Oregon
M.A. in Communication Studies, San Francisco State University
B.A. in Communication Studies, University of San Francisco

Andrew Wilson earned a Ph.D. in Communication and Media Studies from the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication with a concentration in game studies and memetics. He is an alumnus of San Francisco State University (MA) and the University of San Francisco (BA), having earned degrees in Communication Studies at both institutions. Wilson researches the movement of political discourse in online gaming communities through memetic communication and other paratextual content.

As a member of the multi-institution Esports and Games Research Lab (EGR), he also examines the ongoing institutionalization of collegiate esports. Before joining the faculty at St. Mary’s University, he was an adjunct communication studies lecturer in the School of Language Arts and Communication at Long Beach City College and Humanities Division at Fullerton College. 

Wilson, A. and Burrell, S. (2025). Committed to play: Revisualizing young adults’ video game uses and gratifications during COVID-19. First Monday, 30(3). doi.org/10.5210/fm.v30i3.13598

Burrell, S. and Wilson, A. (2025). “It Felt Like a Dream”: Understanding En-Roling and De-Roling in Virtual Reality Through the Affect Lens. International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction. doi.org/10.1080/10447318.2025.2498476

Wilson, A., Cote, A., Foxman, M., Harris, B., Hansen, J., Can, O., and Rahman, W. (2024). (In)Visible Hurdles: U.S. Collegiate Esports Participants’ Perceived Barriers to Play and Involvement. New Media & Society, 27(9). doi.org/10.1177/14614448241252919

Cote, A., Rahman, W., Foxman, M., Wilson, A., Harris, B. C., Can, O., and Hansen, J. (2024). Esports Buffs: The Role of Fans and Fandoms in U.S. Collegiate Programs. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, section The History, Culture and Sociology of Sports. doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2024.1410929

Cote, A., Wilson, A., Hansen. J., Harris, B., Rahman, M., Can, O., Fickle, T., and Foxman, M. (2023). Taking Care of Toxicity: Challenges and Strategies for Inclusion in U.S. Collegiate Esports Programs. Journal of Electronic Gaming and Esports, 1(1). doi.org/10.1123/jege.2022-0031

Recent Refereed Conference Presentations

Wilson, A. and Lorenzo, S. (2025, June). It Only Gets Worse: Visualizing the Toxic Connections Between Video Game Streamers and Online Radicalization. Paper presented at the Draining the Swamp: Toxic Masculinity as a Threat to the Media Industries and Beyond Preconference, affiliated with the 75th International Communication Association Annual Conference. Denver, CO, USA.

Harris, B. C., Wilson, A., and Flonk, D. (2025, June). Altchans, Imageboards, & Hate Creators: A Green Text to Alt-Right Pipeline? Paper presented at the Debating Creator Culture Preconference, affiliated with the 75th International Communication Association Annual Conference. Boulder, CO, USA.

Lorenzo, S. and Wilson, A. (2025, June). Scandal: How Games Journalism and Mainstream Media Cover Sexual Misconduct. Paper presented at the 75th International Communication Association Annual Conference. Denver, CO, USA.

Harris, B. C., Wilson, A., and Flonk, D. (2024, November). Don’t Crash the Party: Analyzing Altchans, Shitposts, and Hate Raids. Paper presented at the (Re)Valuing the Creator Economy: Platforming Conversations in/across Communication Studies Preconference, affiliated with the 110th National Communication Association Annual Conference. New Orleans, Louisiana.

Arangelov, V., Wilson, A., Cote, A., and Foxman, M. (2024, November). From Consoles to Campuses: Understanding Intergenerational Perceptions of Collegiate Esports. Paper presented at the Esports Research Network Conference. London, United Kingdom. esportsresearch.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/ERNC24-Book-of-Abstracts.pdf

Foxman, M., Harris, B. C., Wilson, A., & Cote, A. (2024, November). An Even Playing Field: Retheorizing the Collision of Esports and Universities. Paper presented at the Esports Research Network Conference. London, United Kingdom. esportsresearch.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/ERNC24-Book-of-Abstracts.pdf