Ronald Compesi

Dr. Ronald Compesi taught in the BECA Department from 1976-2014.  He received his B.A. from the University of Connecticut and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Oregon. Dissertation Title: Gratifications of Daytime Television Serial Viewers: An Analysis of Fans of the Program “All My Children.”

Dr. Compesi’s primary teaching and research interests are in the areas of video production and editing and media ethics. He is author of Video Field Production and Editing, 8th edition and co-author of Introduction to Video Production: Studio, Field and Beyond. 2nd edition. Dr. Compesi has published scholarly articles and book reviews in the Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media (JOBEM), Public Telecommunications Review, and Journalism Quarterly and regularly served as a manuscript reviewer for JOBEM.  

From 1993-2003, Dr. Compesi served as co-executive producer for a variety of special television programs produced for KTVU (Channel 2, Oakland/San Francisco) television’s Family to Family and Bay Area People community affairs series. In 2007, Dr. Compesi was recognized as the outstanding Media Arts professor in the California State University System at the CSU annual Media Arts Festival.  And in 2015 he received the Outstanding Service Award from the Epsilon Pi Tau International Honor Society for Professionals in Technology.

In addition to his teaching and research activities, Dr. Compesi has held a number of administrative appointments at San Francisco State University, including chair of the Broadcast & Electronic Communication Arts Department (1986-1995), associate dean of the College of Creative Arts (1984-1985 and 2006-2008), interim director of the School of Music and Dance (2004-2005), and interim dean of the College of Creative Arts (2006-2008).

Since his retirement Dr. Compesi has focused on reading, travel (particularly in Asia), and the challenges of growing tomatoes in our foggy, coastal climate.