Past Leadership

From Kathleen Welch, adopting original constitution, 1993

To Rhetoric Society of America members:

The RSA Board of Directors has approved the constitution of the Society. We publish it here so that all the members will have access to our announced aim, statement of scholarly commitment, and procedures for the smooth working of the Society’s scholarly journal (Rhetoric Society Quarterly), elections, conferences, and so on. The Society, now in its twenty-sixth year, owes a great debt to George A. Yoos, who founded the journal, established its strong reputation in numerous disciplines, and brought his wisdom to the journal as well as to the Society. The constitution has been revised approximately six times by two committees that met at RSA, SCA, and CCCC meetings. Former RSA presidents Winifred Bryan Horner and Richard Leo Enos devoted an extensive amount of time in leading these committees and in applying the results of their long experience to this important document. I thank them for their contribution.

PpAst Presidents

1968
J. Carter Rowland
New York State University at Fredonia
English (Provisional)*

1972 – 1976
Edward P. J. Corbett
Ohio State University
English*
(Prof. Corbett served as Board Chair through 1987)

1988 – 1989
Winifred B. Horner (1922 – 2014)
Texas Christian University
English

1990 – 1991
Richard Leo Enos
Carnegie-Mellon University
English

1992 – 1993
S. Michael Halloran
Rensselear Polytechnic Institute
Language, Literature, and Communication

1994 – 1995
Kathleen Welch
University of Oklahoma
English

1996 – 1997
Carolyn R. Miller
North Carolina State University
English

1998 – 1999
C. Jan Swearingen (1948 – 2017)
University of Texas at Arlington
English
 
2000 – 2001
Frederick Antczak
University of Iowa
Rhetoric

2002 – 2003
Gerard A. Hauser
University of Colorado at Boulder
Communication

2004 – 2005
Patricia Bizzell
College of the Holy Cross
English

2006 – 2007
David Zarefsky
Northwestern University
Communication

2008 – 2009
Jack Selzer
Penn State University
English

2010 – 2011
Michael C. Leff (1941–2010)
University of Memphis
Communication

2010 – 2011
David Zarefsky
(appointed to complete the term of Michael Leff)
Northwestern University
Communication

2012 – 2013
Krista Ratcliffe
Arizona State University
English

2014 – 2015
Kendall Phillips
Syracuse University
Communication and Rhetorical Studies

2016 – 2018
Gregory Clark
Brigham Young University
English

2018 – 2020
Kirt H. Wilson
Penn State University
Communication Arts and Sciences, and African American Studies

2020 – 2022
Michelle Ballif
University of Georgia
English

2022 – 2024
Vanessa B. Beasley
Trinity University

PBoards of Directors

1968 Founding Board of Directors
Carter RowlandNew York State University at Fredonia, English
Nelson J. Smith, IIIBall State University, English
Wayne BoothUniversity of Chicago, English
William IrmschserUniversity of Washington, English
W. Ross WinterowdUniversity of California, English
John RycengaSacred Heart University, English
Henry W. Johnstone, Jr., Pennsylvania State University, Philosophy
Richard Larson, University of Hawaii, English
Edward P. J. CorbettOhio State University, English
Leslie WhippUniversity of Nebraska, English
Robert GorrellUniversity of Nevada, English
Joseph SchwartzMarquette University, English
Richard HughesBoston College, English
James Green, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, English
Harry CrosbyBoston University, English
Owen ThomasIndiana University, Linguistics
Donald C. BryantUniversity of Iowa, Speech
Term Expiring *

1974
Donald C. BryantUniversity of Iowa, Speech
Leland GriffinNorthwestern University, Speech                         
Karl WallaceUniversity of Massachusetts, Speech

1975
Carroll ArnoldPennsylvania State University, Speech
Dudley BaileyUniversity of Nebraska, English
Ellis Page, University of Connecticut, Psychology
George YoosSt. Cloud State University, Philosophy

1975
Carroll ArnoldPennsylvania State University, Speech
Dudley BaileyUniversity of Nebraska, English
Ellis Page, University of Connecticut, Psychology
George YoosSt. Cloud State University, Philosophy

1976
Lawrence RosenfieldHunter College, CUNY, Speech
W. Ross WinterowdUniversity of Southern California, English

1977
Walter FisherUniversity of Southern California, Speech Communication
Dorothy Margaret GuinnUniversity of Southern California, English, Student Member
Henry W. Johnstone, Jr., Pennsylvania State University, Philosophy

1978
Janice M. LauerMarygrove College, English
Robert L. ScottUniversity of Minnesota, Speech
Thomas O. SloneUniversity of California, Berkeley, Rhetoric
Richard E. YoungUniversity of Michigan, English

1983
Richard Leo EnosCarnegie-Mellon University, English
James J. MurphyUniversity of California, Davis, Rhetoric

1984
Frank D’AngeloArizona State University, English
Winifred B. HornerUniversity of Missouri-Columbia, English
Charles W. KneupperSouthwest Texas State University, Speech
Donovan J. OchsUniversity of Iowa, Rhetoric

1985
S. Michael HalloranRensselear Polytechnic Institute, Language
Janice M. LauerPurdue University, English
Honora Mary RockarCarnegie-Mellon University, English

1986
James A. BerlinUniversity of Cincinnati, English
Steve WilsonTexas Christian University, English, Student Member
Lynn Worsham, University of Texas at Arlington, English

1989
Robert J. Connors, University of New Hampshire, English
Richard JohannesenNorthern Illinois University, Speech Communication
Charles W. KneupperSouthwest Texas State University, Speech
Andrea A. LunsfordOhio State University, English

1990
Donald C. BryantUniversity of Iowa, Speech
Winifred B. HornerTexas Christian University, English
James J. MurphyUniversity of California, Davis, Rhetoric
Kathleen Welch, University of Oklahoma, English

1991
Lisa S. EdeOregon State University, English
S. Michael HalloranRensselear Polytechnic Institute, Language
Michael C. LeffUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison, Communication Arts

1992
Lisa S. EdeOregon State University, English
Victoria GaydosikUniversity of Rochester, English, Student Member
Nan JohnsonOhio State University, English
Michael C. LeffUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison, Communication Arts
Carolyn R. MillerNorth Carolina State University, English
James J. MurphyUniversity of California, Davis, Rhetoric
Gary A. OlsonUniversity of South Florida, English
Marie J. Secor, Pennsylvania State University, English
Winifred B. HornerTexas Christian University, English (no term specified)

1993
Victoria GaydosikEast Central University, English and Language, Student Member

1994
Sheri HelsleyOhio State University, English, Student Member
J. Blake ScottPennsylvania State University, English, Student Member (replacing Helsley)
Richard Leo EnosTexas Christian University, English (1990-91)
Nan JohnsonOhio State University, English
Carolyn R. MillerNorth Carolina State University, English
Gary A. OlsonUniversity of South Florida, English
Marie J. SecorPennsylvania State University, English

1996a Members-at-Large
Don Paul AbbottUniversity of California, Davis, Department of Rhetoric and Communication
Joyce Irene MiddletonUniversity of Rochester, English
Edward SchiappaUniversity of Minnesota, Speech Communication
J. Blake ScottPennsylvania State University, English, Student Member

1996b Members-at-Large
Frederick AntczakUniversity of Iowa, Rhetoric
Melody BowdonUniversity of Arizona, English, Student Member
Gregory ClarkBrigham Young University, English
Sharon CrowleyPennsylvania State University, English

1998
Frederick AntczakUniversity of Iowa, Rhetoric
Melody BowdonUniversity of Arizona, English, Student Member
Gregory ClarkBrigham Young University, English
Sharon CrowleyPennsylvania State University, English

2000
Patricia Bizzell, College of the Holy Cross, English
Jeanne FahnestockUniversity of Maryland, English
Gerard HauserUniversity of Colorado Boulder, Communication
Steven MaillouxUniversity of California, Irvine, English
Jean Dietz MossCatholic University, English

2003
Stacy DayBrigham Young University, English, Student Member
Rosa EberlyPenn State University, Communication Arts and Sciences
Robert GainesUniversity of Maryland, Communication
Glen McClishSan Diego State University, Rhetoric and Writing
Molly Meijer WertheimerPennsylvania State University Hazelton, Speech Communication

2005
Jack SelzerPennsylvania State University, English
Sean Patrick O’RoukeFurman University, Communication Studies
Alisse Theodore PortnoyUniversity of Michigan, English
Susan WellsTemple University, English
Susan ZaeskeUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison, Communication Arts
David ZarefskyNorthwestern University, Communication Studies (replacing Zaeske)

2007
Janet Atwill, University of Tennessee
Jim AuneTexas A & M University
Leah CeccarelliUniversity of Washington
Ralph CintronUniversity of Chicago
Diane DavisUniversity of Texas at Austin
Susan JarrattUniversity of California, Irvine
Michael LeffUniversity of Memphis
Virginia SanprieUniversity of Colorado Boulder, Student Member

2009
Cinthia GannettLoyala College, Maryland
Caroline Gottschalk-DruschkeUniversity of Illinois Chicago, Student Member
Robert HarimanNorthwestern University
Kendall PhillipsSyracuse University
Krista RatcliffeMarquette University
Barbara WarnickUniversity of Pittsburgh

2011
Davida Charney, University of Texas at Austin
Pamela K. Conners, Gustavus Adolphus College, Student Member
Cara A. Finnegan, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Roxanne Mountford, University of Kentucky
Lester C. Olson, University of Pittsburgh
Kendall PhillipsSyracuse University
Kimberly Thomas-PolleiUniversity of Minnesota, Student Member
Arthur WalzerUniversity of Minnesota

2013
David Kaufer, Carnegie Mellon University
Michelle Ballif, University of Georgia
Kirt Wilson, Pennsylvania State University
Lisa Villadsen, University of Copenhagen
Kendall Gerdes, University of Texas Student Member
Jennifer Keohane, University of Wisconsin-Madison Student Member

2015
Vanessa Beasley, Vanderbilt University
David Tell, University of Kansas (replaced Pat Gehrke, University of South Carolina)
Shirley Wilson Logan, University of Maryland
Jenny Edbauer Rice, University of Kentucky
Sarah Frank, University of Texas Student Member
Katie Lind, Indiana University Student Member

2016 (change in term date)
Jessica EnochUniversity of Maryland
Christa OlsonUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison
Ron GreeneUniversity of Minnesota
René De los SantosUniversidad Autónoma de Baja California
Damien Pfister,  University of Maryland (replaced Rene de Los Santos)
Erica FischerUniversity of South Carolina Student Member
Katie IrwinUniversity of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Student Member

2018
Lisa FloresUniversity of Colorado Boulder
Ersula OreArizona State University
Gwendolyn PoughSyracuse University
Karrieann Soto VegaSyracuse University
Anjali Vats, Boston College

2020
Tamika CareyUniversity of Virginia
Lisa CorriganUniversity of Arkansas
Celnisha DangerfieldUniversity of Memphis
Debra HawheePennsylvania State University
Theon HillWheaton College

2022
Rasha DiabUniversity of Texas at Austin
Leigh Elion, Independent Scholar
Jennifer LeMesurierColgate University
Rachael McIntoshNortheastern University
Anita MixonWayne State University
Amy YoungPacific Lutheran University

2024
Jennifer Clary-LemonUniversity of Waterloo
Matthew HoudekRochester Institute of Technology
Allison PraschUniversity of WisconsinMadison
Ryan SkinnellSan Jose State University
Mikayla Torres, University of Colorado Boulder
Erin J. RandSyracuse University

RRSA Newsletter Editors

1968 – 1969
Nelson J. Smith, III
Ball State University
English

1972–1975
George Yoos
St. Cloud State University
Philosophy

RRSA Quarterly Editors

1975–1986
George Yoos
St. Cloud State University
Philosophy

1987 – 1990
Eugene Garver
St. John’s University
Neely Chair of Thinking

George Yoos
St. Cloud State University
Philosophy

1991 – 1995
Eugene Garver
St. John’s University
Neely Chair of Thinking

Philip Keith
St. Cloud State University
English

1993 – 1995
Rex Veeder
St. Could State University
English

1996 – 1999
Jeffrey Walker
Pennsylvania State University
English

2000 – 2007
Gregory Clark
Brigham Young University
English

2008 – 2011
Carolyn R. Miller
North Carolina State University
English

2012 -2015
James Jasinski
University of Puget Sound
Communication

2016 – 2019
Susan Jarratt
University of California, Irvine
Comparative Literature

2020 – 2023
Jacqueline Rhodes
University of Texas – Austin
Department of Rhetoric & Writing

RExecutive Director

1968
Nelson J. Smith
Ball State University
English (Provisional)

1972 – 1974
Richard Larson
Herbert H. Lehman CollegeCUNY
English
(Prof. Larson served as Exec. Sec. through 1986)

1986 – 1995
George Yoos
St.Cloud State University
Philosophy

1996 – 2003
S. Michael Halloran
Rensselear Polytechnic Institute
Language, Literature, and Communication

2003 – 2008
David Henry
University of Nevada at Las Vegas
Communication

2008-2012
Gregory D. Clark
Brigham Young University

2012 – 2014
Frederick J. Antczak
Grand Valley State University

2014 – 2020
Gerard A. Hauser
University of Colorado Boulder

2021 – Current
Leslie Dinauer

Mmembership Officer

1992–1996
Fred Reynolds
Old Dominion University, English
City College of New York, English and Speech

1996–2000
Cheryl Glenn
Pennsylvania State University
English

2000 – 2006
Rosa Eberly
University of Texas at Austin
Rhetoric and Composition and English;
Pennsylvania State University
Communication and English

2006 – 2009
Debbie Hawhee
Pennsylvania State University
English

2009 – 2013
Arabella Lyon
SUNY – Buffalo
English

2013 – 2016
Jordynn Jack
University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
English

2016 – 2019
Joan McAlister
Drake University
Communication

2019 – 2021
Leslie J. Harris
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee,
Communication

Biennial Conferences

1984 (July 20-22)
1st Biennial Conference
Oldspeak/Newspeak: Rhetorical Transformations
Keynote: Lloyd F. Bitzer “George Orwell’s Rejection of Tyrannical Rhetoric”
University of Texas at Arlington

1986 (May 29 – June 1)
2nd Biennial Conference
Visions of Rhetoric: History, Theory and Criticism
Keynote: Edward P. J. Corbett “Where are the Snows of Yesteryear? Has Rhetoric Come a Long Way in the Last Twenty-Five Years?”
University of Texas at Arlington

1988 (May 26 – 29)
3rd Biennial Conference
Rhetoric and Ideology: Compositions and Criticisms of Power
Keynote: James A. Berlin “Rhetoric Programs after World War II: Ideology, Power and Conflict”
University of Texas at Arlington

1990 (May 24 – 27)
4th Biennial Conference
Realms of Rhetoric: Phonic, Graphic, Electronic
Keynote: Karlyn Kohrs Campbell “Genre and Culture: The Test Case of Women’s Rhetoric”
University of Texas at Arlington

1992 (May 21 – 23)
5th Biennial Conference
Rhetoric in the Vortex of Cultural Studies
Keynote: Walter H. Beale
Minneapolis, MN

1994
6th Biennial Conference
Rhetoric, Cultural Studies, And Literacy
Norfolk, VA

1996
7th Biennial Conference
The Prospect of Rhetoric
Tucson, AZ

1998
8th Biennial Conference
Rhetoric, the Polis, and the Global Village
Pittsburgh, PA

2000
9th Biennial Conference
Professing Rhetoric
Washington, DC

2002
10th Biennial Conference
The Rhetorical Democracy: Discursive Practices of Civic Engagement
Las Vegas,NV

2004 (May 28 – 31)
11th Biennial Conference
Rhetorical Agendas Political, Ethical, Spiritual
Austin, TX

2006 (May 26 – 29)
12th Biennial Conference
Sizing Up Rhetoric
Memphis, TN

2008 (May 23 – 26)
13th Biennial Conference
The Responsibilities of Rhetoric
Seattle, WA

2010 (May 28 – 31)
14th Biennial Conference
Rhetoric: Concord And Controversy 
Minneapolis, MN

2012 (May 25 – 28)
15th Biennial Conference
Re/Framing Identifications 
Philadephia, PA

2014 (May 22 – 26)
16th Biennial Conference
Rhetoric Across Borders
Keynote: Linda Martin Alcoff
San Antonio, TX

2016 (May 27 – 29)
17th Biennial Conference
Rhetoric & Change
Keynote: Louise W. Knight
Atlanta, GA

2018 (May 31 – June 3)
18th Biennial Conference
Reinventing Rhetoric … Building the Future
Minneapolis, MN

2020 (cancelled due to Covid)
19th Biennial Conference
Rhetoric / Hospitality
Portland, OR

2022 (May 26 – 29)
20th Biennial Conference
The Charge for Change
Baltimore, MD

biennial institutes

RSA Biennial Summer Institutes Archives
A searchable archive of the seminars and workshops of RSA Biennial Summer Institutes since the 3rd Institute in 2009 can be found here

2005
First Biennial Summer Institute
May 23 – 29, 2005
Kent State University

2007
Second Biennial Summer Institute
June 17-27, 2007
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

2009
Third Biennial Summer Institute
June 22-28, 2009
Penn State University

2011
Fourth Biennial Summer Institute
June 20-26, 2011
University of Colorado – Boulder

2013
Fifth Biennial Summer Institute
June 3 – 9, 2013
University of Kansas

2015
Sixth Biennial Summer Institute
June 1 – 7, 2015
University of Wisconsin – Madison

2017
Seventh Biennial Summer Institute
May 21 – 27, 2017
Indiana University

2019
Eighth Biennial Summer Institute
June 3 – 8, 2019
University of Maryland

2021
Ninth Biennial Summer Institute
May 24 – June 4, 2021
Virtual via Syracuse University

eelectronic Communications Officer

2014 – 2016
Collin Brooke
Syracuse University

2017 – 2020
Casey Boyle
University of Texas – Austin