CURRICULUM VITAE
KARYN CHARLES RYBACKI
CURRENT POSITION
Professor, Communication Studies and Public Relations, Northern Michigan University, 1978 to present
EDUCATION
B.A. Ball State University, Speech, 1969
M.A. Bowling Green State University, Rhetoric and Public Address, 1970
Ph.D. University of Iowa, Rhetoric and Public Address, 1979
Additional Coursework: University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Labor Relations, 1976; Southern Illinois UniversityCarbondale, Public Relations in the Entertainment Industry, 1986; jointly instructed by SIU graduate faculty and the
public relations staff of the Disney Company.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Communication Skills Courses
Argumentation
Interpersonal Communication
Public Address
Communication Theory Courses
Rhetorical Theory
Communication Criticism
Communication Ethics
Crisis Communication
Public Relations & Entertainment and Sports Promotion Courses
Mass Communication Law
Introduction to Public Relations
Public Relations Message Design
Public Relations Case Studies
Public Relations Campaigns
Introduction to Entertainment and Sports Promotion
Case Studies in Entertainment and Sports Promotion
Publicity Techniques
Entertainment and Sports Promotion Campaigns
PUBLICATIONS AND PAPERS
Advocacy and Opposition: An Introduction to Argumentation, 7th edition, Allyn & Bacon, 2011, co-authored
with Donald Jay Rybacki
“Rhetorical Exigency, Strategy, and Argumentation,” in William F. Eadie (ed.), 21st Century Communication: A
Reference Handbook (Volume 1), Sage, 2009, co-authored with Donald Jay Rybacki.
“Preface,” to Richard Whatley, Elements of Rhetoric, 7th Edition Revised, Idebate Press, 2009.
“Preface,” to Richard Whatley, Elements of Logic, 8th Edition Revised, Idebate Press, 2008.
“The Death of a Legend,” Pre-conference seminar on Communication and Sports, National Communication
Association Convention, 2003, co-authored with Donald Jay Rybacki
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Communication Criticism: Approaches and Genres, 2nd edition, Pearson, 2002, co-authored with Donald Jay
Rybacki
“Teaching the Pure Law Course in Public Relations,” Public Relations Division, National Communication
Association, Atlanta, 2001
“Teaching ‘Themeing’ in Public Relations Message Design and Campaigns,” Public Relations Division, National
Communication Association, Chicago, 1999, co-authored with Donald Jay Rybacki
“Teaching the Public Relations Writing and Case Studies Courses,” Pre-conference seminar on Public Relations
Pedagogy, National Communication Association, Chicago,1999
“Public Relations Education: Where is Pedagogy?,” Public Relations Review, Spring 1999, co-authored with W.
Timothy Coombs.
“The King, the Young Prince, and the Last Confederate Soldier,” in Patrick Miller (ed.) The Sporting World of
the Modern South, University of Illinois Press, 2001, co-authored with Donald Jay Rybacki. [A revised version of a
paper presented at the joint meeting of the Popular Culture Association and the American Culture Association,
Orlando, FL, 1997.]
“Public Relations and Ethics—A Problematic Relationship: Cigarette Sponsorship and NASCAR,” Public
Relations Division, National Communication Association, New York City, 1998, co-authored with Donald Jay
Rybacki.
“Lessons Learned—New Visions,” Panel Discussion of Summer Conference “Dialog on Public Relations,”
Public Relations Division, National Communication Association, New York City, 1998
“Bakhtin, Narrative Time, and Sports Time in Motor Sports,” Pre-Conference Seminar on Mikhail Bahktin,
National Communication Association, Chicago, 1997, co-authored with Donald Jay Rybacki.
"Whatever Can Go Wrong, Will Go Wrong: Crisis Planning in the Music Industry," Public Relations Division,
Speech Communication Association, San Diego, CA, 1996, co-authored with Donald Jay Rybacki.
“From Burns and Scot to the Proclaimers: The Lyric Tradition in Scottish Nationalist Rhetoric,” International
Society for the History of Rhetoric, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1995, co-authored with Donald Jay Rybacki.
“Competition in the Comic Frame: A Burkean Analysis of Vintage Sports Car Racing,” Southern Journal of
Communication, Fall, 1995, co-authored with Donald Jay Rybacki. [A revised version of a paper presented to the
Kenneth Burke Society, Speech Communication Association, New Orleans, 1994]
“Cartoons as Communication: Rhetorical Perspectives,” Pre-conference seminar, Speech Communication
Association, New Orleans, 1994, co-authored with Donald Jay Rybacki. We also organized the pre-con on Cartoons
and Communication and this was the keynote paper.
“Oh Mammy Dear, We’re All Mad Over Here, Livin’ in America: The Rhetoric of Irish-American Rock,” Mass
Communication Division, Speech Communication Association, New Orleans, 1994, co-authored with Donald Jay
Rybacki.
“Hey Beavis, Stop Flickin’ Your Bic. Fire Isn’t Cool Any More: An Analysis of the Failure of MTV’s Apologia,
heh, heh, heh,” Public Relations Division, Speech Communication Association, New Orleans, 1994, co-authored
with Donald Jay Rybacki
.
“Public and Private Sector Responses to Natural Disasters: A Case Study of the Differential Effectiveness of
Response Strategies to Hurricane Andrew,” Public Relations Division, Speech Communication Association, Miami,
1993, co-authored with Donald Jay Rybacki.
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“Highway to Hell or Freedom Road: A Rhetorical Perspective on Heavy Metal,” Mass Communication Division,
Speech Communication Association, Miami, 1993, co-authored with Donald Jay Rybacki.
“The Rhetoric of Humor: Structure, Devices and Uses.” Pre-conference seminar on Humor, Speech
Communication Association, Chicago, 1992, co-authored with Donald Jay Rybacki.
“CNN’s ‘Agenda Earth vs. CBS’s ‘Eye on Earth’: A Rhetorical Analysis of Divergent Ideologies,”
Environmental Communication Division, Speech Communication Association, Chicago, 1992, co-authored with
Donald Jay Rybacki.
“P.T. Barnum is Alive and Well and Living in Orlando,” Public Relations Interest Group, Central States
Communication Association, Detroit, 1990, co-authored with Donald Jay Rybacki. [We were invited to present this
paper as part of the initial program on public relations, coincident with the launch of the CSSA public relations
interest group.]
“Oh Then Tell Me Sean O’Farrell Where the Gathering is To Be: The Rhetoric of Irish Songs of Rebellion,”
Mass Communication Division, International Communication Association, Dublin, Ireland, 1990, co-authored with
Donald Jay Rybacki.
“Should We Laugh or Cry? ALF as Mediated American,” Mass Communication Division, Speech
Communication Association, San Francisco, 1989, co-authored with Donald Jay Rybacki.
“The Journey: Film as Argument,” International Communication Association, Mass Communication Division,
New Orleans, 1988, co-authored with Donald Jay Rybacki.
“Yes But…American Newspaper Coverage of Glasnost,” Public Relations Division, International
Communication Association New Orleans, 1988, co-authored with Donald Jay Rybacki.
“Public Rhetoric and Public Relations,” Commission on Public Relations, Speech Communication Association,
Boston, 1987 co-authored with Donald Jay Rybacki. [We were invited to present this paper as part of the initial
program on public relations, coincident with the launch of the SCA commission on public relations, now the Public
Relations Division of the National Communication Association.]
“Combating Software Piracy: A Comparative Analysis of the SPA and ADAPSO Campaigns,” Public Relations
Interest Group, International Communication Association, 1986, Chicago, co-authored with Donald Jay Rybacki.
“The State of the Art in Public Relations Education: Undergraduate and Graduate Curricula in the 1980’s,”
Public Relations Interest Group, International Communication Association, Honolulu, 1985 co-authored with
Donald Jay Rybacki. [This paper was invited as part of the initial program on public relations, coincident with the
launch of the ICA public relations interest group, now division.]
“Visions of Apocalypse: A Rhetorical Analysis of The Day After,” Mass Communication Division, International
Communication Association, San Francisco, 1984 co-authored with Donald Jay Rybacki.
“The Anti-Humanist Manifesto of Tim LaHaye,” Religious Speech Communication Association, meeting in
conjunction with the Speech Communication Association, Chicago, 1984, co-authored with Donald Jay Rybacki.
“The Ethics of Immediacy: Where’s the Analysis in Instant Analysis?,” Political Communication Division,
International Communication Association, Dallas, 1983, co-authored with Donald Jay Rybacki.
“Teaching Argumentation and Rhetorical Criticism Courses in a Maximum Security Prison Environment,”
Instructional Development Division, Speech Communication Association, Anaheim, 1981.
“Communication Audits: A Question of Limits,” Wisconsin Communication Association, Stevens Point, 1980
co-authored with Donald Jay Rybacki.
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“Instructional Strategies for Organizational Communication,” Wisconsin Communication Association, Stevens
Point, 1980 co-authored with Donald Jay Rybacki.
“Relational Conflict Between Members of Teacher’s Unions and Community Members as a Result of Collective
Action: Isolation and Resolution,” Journal of Collective Negotiation in the Public Sector, vol 8, 1979, co-authored
with Donald Jay Rybacki. [An earlier version presented at Interpersonal Communication Section, Central States
Communication Association, Chicago, 1978.]
“The Toulmin Model: Teaching, Learning and Evaluating Strategies,” Argumentation and Debate Section,
Central States Communication Association, St. Louis, 1979, co-authored with Donald Jay Rybacki.
“C.B., C.W., and the Convoy Cult,” Interpersonal Communication Section, Central States Communication
Association, St Louis, 1979 co-authored with Donald Jay Rybacki.
“Making Unreasonable Demands in the Face of Unacceptable Offers: The Incidence of Conflict and the Exercise
of Power Across the Bargaining Table,” Applied Communication Division, Speech Communication Association,
San Antonio, 1979 co-authored with Donald Jay Rybacki.
“Conflict, Power and Unions: Theoretical Conceptualizations and Propositions,” Michigan Speech Association,
Boyne Mountain, 1978 co-authored with Donald Jay Rybacki.
SERVICE
To the University
Academic Senate, department representative (single term)
Athletic Council, member, Committee on Student Athletes and Academics (single term)
Commission on the Future of Northern Michigan University, Co-Chair of the Young Adults Task Force
Committee on Undergraduate Programs, member (multiple terms)
Faculty Review Committee, member (single term)
International Conference on Sports and Society, Co-Chair/Organizer, the fourth part of the Vital Issues Forum
Series that was part of NMU’s Centennial Celebration
Liberal Studies Task Force, Committee on Formal Communication Studies (member)
To the Profession
Dialog on Public Relations, National Co-Chair for Pedagogy, National Communication Association Summer
Conference, Washington DC, which brought together academics and practitioners to discuss the future of
public relations leading to the most recent guidelines for undergraduate and graduate education.
Editorial Board Member, The Quarterly Journal of Speech
Editorial Board Member, Communication Studies
Public Relations Interest Group, Vice Chair, International Communication Association (multiple terms)
Public Relations Division, International Communication Association, co-founder
Public Relations Division, National Communication Association, co-founder
Sports and Communication Division, National Communication Association, co-founder
To the Community
Marquette County Economic Development Committee, communication needs assessment and
recommendations
Superior Motors (Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Toyota dealership), training session on customer service for all sales
and service personnel
Upper Peninsula Labor-Management Council, training session on listening skills
Upper Peninsula Power Company, training program for salaried personnel on team building and quality
improvement
Upper Peninsula School Superintendents, training session on school public relations
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