In Memoriam: Dr. Deric Greene, Professor of Communication

To Our Stevenson Community, 

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Dr. Deric Greene, Professor of Communication, on Sunday, February 22, 2026. Deric was a long-serving faculty member at Stevenson whose kind and gentle nature made him well-loved by his many students and colleagues over the years. 

Deric was a proud graduate of Howard University, where he earned his doctorate, and joined Stevenson in 2004 as an Assistant Professor of Communication. Over the next 22 years, he taught a variety of courses in the Department of Communication, including Communication Theory, Intercultural Communication, Advanced Public Speaking, Nonverbal Communication, and Communication and Leadership. In 2019, he was promoted to Professor of Communication. 

Through his teaching, Deric fostered his students’ critical thinking skills, encouraging them to question and discuss the material they were learning, while inspiring them to think more deeply about the broad personal and social impact of communication. Moreso, he made time to connect personally with his students to help, support, and guide them as a mentor, often sharing what he learned from his own career and life experiences. Outside of the classroom, Deric’s research explored how communication theories could be applied to popular culture, including the narratives and perceptions surrounding marginalized superheroes in speculative fiction. Recognition of his teaching and scholarship extended beyond Stevenson. In March 2021, he received the “Excellence in Teaching Award” from the National Society of Leadership Success.  

An active member of the Stevenson community, Deric was always eager to serve and share his talents and energy. As one of the inaugural co-chairs of the Paul D. Lack Scholars’ Showcase Committee, Deric was instrumental in establishing this annual celebration of Stevenson faculty scholarship, and he was recognized as an Honorary Co-Chair of the Committee upon the event’s 10th anniversary in 2024. He also supported student scholarship and professional development as a member of the Student Scholarly and Creative Works Summer Grant Program committee and as co-advisor to the Communication Hub. Deric was also member of and presented at multiple regional and national professional organizations, including the Eastern Communication Association, the National Communication Association, the Maryland Communication Association, and the Southern States Communication Association. During the autumn of 2024, he organized a panel, “Navigating New Shores: Exploring the Communication Discipline through the Voices of Marginalized Scholars,” for the 95th Annual Southern States Communication Association Convention. 

Deric will be remembered for the character and warmth he brought to his position as a professor, colleague, and communicator. He greeted every person with kindness and a sweet smile no matter their station. He was a wonderful listener who always made you feel seen, and he was proud of the bonds that he forged with his students through his teaching and mentoring. He leaves a profound and lasting legacy in the accomplishments of the many individuals he so cherished and inspired through teaching. 

The deepest sympathies of our entire university community go out to Deric’s family, his many friends, current and former students, colleagues, and all those whose lives he touched here at Stevenson and throughout his life. We will share information about Deric’s memorial service with the Stevenson community once it becomes available. 

Sincerely, 

Merrie Durmowicz, Ph.D. 
Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost 

Amanda Hostalka 
Dean, School of Design, Arts, and Communication
and Senior Vice Provost, Academic Affairs