Formerly the Academic Chair of the Communications/TV/Radio/Film Department, Prof. Gerien is a recipient of the State University of New York Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching. Professor Gerien earned his graduate degree in Film Studies from San Francisco State University.

He teaches Cinema Studies at the College and also operates his own media consulting and production company which produces multimedia web pages, documentaries, commercials and promotional films.

He and his wife Linda have two daughters, Amanda and Jennifer, two world class grandsons named Finn and Demetrios and a cherubic grandaughter named Lillian.