Richard Rose ’88 was working in television in Madison, Wisconsin when Joe Bookman, associate professor of media studies, encouraged him to apply to be a Practitioner-in-Residence at Beloit College. Rose, who graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1988, had stayed connected with the college as a guest instructor, attending performances, and writing letters of recommendations for students.

In his practice, Rose centers authenticity and engagement. He understands the pressures the outside world can bring to his classroom, and how his classroom practice can support his students in the outside world. He celebrates the way Beloit College students have remained the same, their critical thinking, world approach, and broad mindset.

“They embrace real-world experience, especially when it comes from someone who sat where they are sitting now. College can be a world inside a world, but as a practitioner we have to work in both worlds,” he says. Rose learns from conversations with his students, and he credits his students with fresh perspectives he can share that might otherwise be missed. In fact, two students intern (campaign graphics and policy) with “real-world Rick Rose” in his County Supervisor role.

Rose designs digital marketing, content creation, public speaking courses as experiences with real world application – awareness, acceptance, action – inviting alumni guest speakers, collaborating across campus, learning breathing and muscle relaxation techniques, analyzing AI, among others. He invites students to debate difficult topics and celebrates their willingness to work through their anxiety, ultimately appreciating this guided chance to process.

“This is a great class for me. A place I can practice and learn, not just rehearse by myself,” says Stacy Chen ’26, media studies major and marketing and cognitive science minor. “Beloit College is a community and the professors support you. They take you seriously.”

Life experience is valued in the classroom, his own and his students who are joyful reflections of the effort he makes to connect with them – international students practice Japanese with Rose when they enter the room, seniors express gratitude when his letter of recommendation opens a door to graduate school, students record their thoughts on paper that someday Rose will mail back to them – and Rose projects this joy forward.

“I’m excited about the future, and the future is about following up. The success of the Schools, the new majors, and the high numbers of students from all academic areas enrolled in my classes means I won’t retire until I’m 70,” he says.

Rose mentors students on how to navigate their media studies pathway and their professional relationships, helping them to find the ‘right thing,’ or the ‘right place,’ which is exactly what he considers his residency at Beloit College to be.