CURRICULUM VITAE
DONALD JAY RYBACKI
CURRENT POSITION
Professor, Communication Studies and Public Relations, Northern Michigan University, 1977 to present.
Head, Department of Communication and Performance Studies, 1991-2008 and Associate Dean, College of
Arts and Sciences, 1999-2008
EDUCATION
B.A. University of Arizona, Public Address (Secondary Certification), 1967
M.A. University of Arizona, Rhetorical Theory and Criticism, 1968
Ph.D. University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Communication in Groups and Organizations, 1983
Additional Coursework: University of Arizona, Experimental Design and Methodology, Statistics, and
Communication Theory, 1971; Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, 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
Small Group Process
Scriptwriting for Radio and Television
Communication Theory Courses
Advanced Interpersonal Communication
Communication Criticism
Nonverbal Communication
Organizational Communication
Persuasion
Public Relations & Entertainment and Sports Promotion Courses
Mass Communication Law
Introduction to Public Relations
Public Relations Research
Public Relations Message Design
Public Relations Campaigns
Introduction to Entertainment and Sports Promotion
Entertainment and Sports Promotion Campaigns
PUBLICATIONS AND PAPERS
Advocacy and Opposition: An Introduction to Argumentation, 7th edition, Allyn & Bacon, 2011, co-authored
with Karyn Charles Rybacki
“Rhetorical Exigency, Strategy, and Argumentation,” in William F. Eadie (ed.), 21st Century Communication: A
Reference Handbook (Volume 1), Sage, 2009, co-authored with Karyn Charles Rybacki.
“The Death of a Legend,” Pre-conference seminar on Communication and Sports, National Communication
Association Convention, 2003, co-authored with Karyn Charles Rybacki
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Communication Criticism: Approaches and Genres, 2nd edition, Pearson, 2002, co-authored with Karyn Charles
Rybacki
“Teaching ‘Themeing’ in Public Relations Message Design and Campaigns,” Public Relations Division,
National Communication Association, Chicago, 1999, co-authored with Karyn Charles Rybacki
“Teaching the Public Relations Research Course,” Pre-conference seminar on Public Relations Pedagogy,
National Communication Association, Chicago, 1999
“Assessment of Undergraduate and Graduate Programs,” Public Relations Review, Spring 1999, co-authored
with Dan Lattimore
“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 Karyn Charles 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 Karyn Charles
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 Karyn Charles 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 Karyn Charles 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 Karyn Charles Rybacki.
“Competition in the Comic Frame: A Burkean Analysis of Vintage Sports Car Racing,” Southern Journal of
Communication, Fall, 1995, co-authored with Karyn Charles 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 Karyn Charles 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 Karyn Charles
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 Karyn Charles 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 Karyn Charles Rybacki.
“Highway to Hell or Freedom Road: A Rhetorical Perspective on Heavy Metal,” Mass Communication Division,
Speech Communication Association, Miami, 1993, co-authored with Karyn Charles Rybacki.
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“The Rhetoric of Humor: Structure, Devices and Uses.” Pre-conference seminar on Humor, Speech
Communication Association, Chicago, 1992, co-authored with Karyn Charles 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
Karyn Charles 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 Karyn Charles 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
Karyn Charles Rybacki.
“Should We Laugh or Cry? ALF as Mediated American,” Mass Communication Division, Speech
Communication Association, San Francisco, 1989, co-authored with Karyn Charles Rybacki.
“The Journey: Film as Argument,” International Communication Association, Mass Communication Division,
New Orleans, 1988, co-authored with Karyn Charles Rybacki.
“Yes But…American Newspaper Coverage of Glasnost,” Public Relations Division, International
Communication Association New Orleans, 1988, co-authored with Karyn Charles Rybacki.
“Public Rhetoric and Public Relations,” Commission on Public Relations, Speech Communication Association,
Boston, 1987 co-authored with Karyn Charles 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 Karyn Charles 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 Karyn
Charles 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 Karyn Charles 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 Karyn Charles Rybacki.
“The Ethics of Immediacy: Where’s the Analysis in Instant Analysis?,” Political Communication Division,
International Communication Association, Dallas, 1983, co-authored with Karyn Charles Rybacki.
“Communication Audits: A Question of Limits,” Wisconsin Communication Association, Stevens Point, 1980
co-authored with Karyn Charles Rybacki.
“Instructional Strategies for Organizational Communication,” Wisconsin Communication Association, Stevens
Point, 1980 co-authored with Karyn Charles 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
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with Karyn Charles 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 Karyn Charles Rybacki.
“C.B., C.W., and the Convoy Cult,” Interpersonal Communication Section, Central States Communication
Association, St Louis, 1979 co-authored with Karyn Charles 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 Karyn Charles Rybacki.
“Conflict, Power and Unions: Theoretical Conceptualizations and Propositions,” Michigan Speech Association,
Boyne Mountain, 1978 co-authored with Karyn Charles Rybacki.
SERVICE
To the University
Academic Senate, department representative (multiple terms), College of Arts and Sciences Department Heads
representative (multiple terms), Executive Committee (multiple terms), Academic Senate President (two
terms)
Bargaining Team, NMU-AAUP contract (two negotiation cycles)
Center for Native American Studies Advisory Council, member (multiple terms)
Center for Native American Studies Faculty Affairs Committee, member (single term) Bylaw Revision
subcommittee
College of Arts and Sciences Advisory Council, secretary (single term)
Committee on Undergraduate Programs, member and secretary (multiple terms)
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
North Central Accreditation Self Study Team, member, responsible for writing program development section
of the report.
To the Profession
Commission on Public Relations, secretary and newsletter editor, Speech Communication Association
(multiple terms), this group became one of the largest Divisions in what is now the National
Communication Association
Dialog on Public Relations, National Co-Chair for Assessment, 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, Communication Quarterly
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
Women’s Center Board of Directors, communication needs assessment and recommendations
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