You are here: American University School of Communication Faculty Benjamin Stokes

Back to top

Photograph of Benjamin Stokes

Benjamin Stokes Associate Professor Communication Studies

Degrees
PhD and MA in Communication, University of Southern California; BA in Physics, Haverford College

Bio
Benjamin Stokes is a civic media scholar, game designer, and director of The Playful City Lab. He is also an Assistant Professor in the School of Communication, and at the AU Game Center. Previously, he co-founded Games for Change, the movement hub for advancing social change with games. At the MacArthur Foundation prior to academia, Benjamin was a program officer in their portfolio on Digital Media and Learning. Benjamin has also worked at the UC Berkeley School of Information as a postdoctoral scholar in data science. Design experience in civil society includes leading teams at NetAid/Mercy Corps in global citizenship education.


His new book is Locally Played: Real-World Games for Stronger Places and Communities (MIT Press, 2020).


Students considering our PhD Program or MA/MFA in Game Design and Interactivity are encouraged to be in touch. Recent collaborations with students include projects on neighborhood storytelling networks, place-based games, participatory design, and play that strengthens cities and communities.
See Also
@bgstokes
NEW BOOK: Locally Played
Playful City Lab
Professional Website for Prof. Benjamin Stokes
For the Media
To request an interview for a news story, call AU Communications at 202-885-5950 or submit a request.

Teaching

Spring 2024

  • COMM-365 Digital Media and Culture

  • COMM-587 Playful Cities

  • COMM-899 Doctoral Dissertation

Partnerships & Affiliations