Steven Cherry

Instructor, OLLI Program, University of Pittsburgh

Gardiner, New York, United States

About

My substack, "Politics, Technology, and Language" is at http://gunksny.substack.com. Former staff editor at IEEE Spectrum in a series of roles — features journalist, section editor, blog czar, and podcast host. Various awards, including contributor to NMA-winning issues and special reports and podcast series. Past Director of TTI/Vanguard, “a unique forum for senior-level executives that links strategic technology planning to business success. In private conferences that are part classroom, part think-tank, and part laboratory, its members—corporate and government leaders, entrepreneurs, researchers, and academics—explore emerging and potentially disruptive technologies.” Taught creative writing and journalism from 2008 to 2024, first at The College of New Rochelle, then NYU, and then at the University of Pittsburgh. Still teach film and writing at the OSHER (adult-ed) programs attached to Pitt and CMU. 20+ years of experience as a technology journalist and editor, at the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), and the Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). Certified single-pitch instructor (AMGA) rock climbing guide.

Experience

  • Instructor at OLLI at Carnegie-Mellon University
    Jul 2025 - Present · 1 yr

  • Instructor at OLLI at University of Pittsburgh
    Jan 2023 - Present · 3 yrs 6 mos

  • Rock Climbing Guide at Alpine Endeavors, LLC
    May 2026 - Present · 2 mos

  • Instructor (English Department) at University of Pittsburgh
    Aug 2021 - Dec 2024 · 3 yrs 5 mos

    Seminar in Composition is a course devoted to "creative critical writing." I taught two sections each semester, introducing students to the fundamentals of storytelling, and then apply them in writing profiles, memoir, fiction, and a podcast. Students read, watch, and listen to a diverse assortment of writers, movies, song, podcasts, and speeches.

  • Contributing Editor at IEEE Spectrum
    Jul 2020 - Dec 2023 · 3 yrs 6 mos