Rory Solomon

Rory Solomon is a media studies scholar, specializing in digital media, software, and networks. He is currently writing a book about the culture and politics of do-it-yourself (DIY), community-oriented practices around networking infrastructure, focusing on a technology known as mesh networks. Previous writing and research has analyzed a software structure known as the stack. Dr. Solomon teaches media studies courses, including cross-listed courses in computer science. His hybrid theory/practice classes integrate hands-on coding education into a liberal arts seminar format. At Macalester, Rory is undertaking a project to install multiple antennae on campus to facilitate alternative communication platforms, activism, and community-building.

Solomon is an amateur radio operator (KD2QGX) and can frequently be found on local area VHF and UHF nets. He is also a software engineer and an artist. He has developed database-backed websites for many organizations, including the New York Review of Books, Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Parsons Institute for Information Mapping, and was the technical lead for the Urban Research Tool: a web-based mapping platform for geospatial humanities research. His solo artworks and collaborations have been featured in the Wave Farm Transmission Arts Center, the Conflux Festival, Medialab Prado, dorkbot, and the National Art Museum of China. Rory holds a PhD in Media, Culture, and Communication from New York University, an MA in Media Studies from The New School, and a dual BA in computer science & applied math from the University of California, Berkeley.

Fall 2026 Office Hours
Wednesdays 1:15-3:15pm, Sign up here