West Liberty University Professor Emeritus John Matviko, Wheeling, was recently interviewed and featured in a story on the NBC’s Today Show news site.

Matviko, who edited The American President in Popular Culture for Greenwood Press, has been interested in the intersection of politics and popular culture for most of his academic career and during the presidential election of 2008, he served as a go-to source for numerous national and international media including the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, ABC News, the Associated Press, Agence France Presse and The Times of India.

The Aug. 7 story, “President Obama can let loose on late-night TV, thanks to Bill Clinton” by Vidya Rao examines how recent presidents have increasingly used popular culture to boost their popularity.

Matviko has stayed active in popular culture studies. Recently, he contributed a lengthy book review for the current issue of The Journal of Popular Music and this fall he will teach “Rock and Roll and American Culture” for West Liberty’s honors program.

West Liberty University is a forward-looking, four-year public university steeped in a rich heritage as West Virginia’s oldest institution of higher education.

Led by President Robin C. Capehart, West Liberty is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. For more information on WLU, please visit westliberty.edu or call 1.866.WESTLIB.