Nancy L. Aarts, Ph.D.is an Audiologist whose research focuses on evidence-based practice in the selection and fitting of amplification technologies. Dr. Aarts has studied various measures of speech understanding, techniques used to fit hearing aids on adults, and the benefits of different technologies used with wireless phones by people with hearing loss. She has written and presented widely on assistive listening technologies and best practices in audiologic care. Additionally, Dr. Aarts has provided audiology services to children and adults in a variety of clinical settings.

Denise M. Bostdorff, Ph.D., began teaching at The College of Wooster in the fall of 1994. Prior to her arrival, Dr. Bostdorff was an Associate Professor of Communication at Purdue University, where she taught for seven years.

Dr. Bostdorff earned her Ph.D. at Purdue in 1987 and her Master of Arts at the University of Illinois in 1983. At Bowling Green State University, she won two national championships for her public speaking as a member of the forensics team and completed a Bachelor of Science in communication education in 1982.

Dr. Bostdorff has been recognized for her teaching eleven times, including the W. Charles Redding Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, Purdue University's School of Liberal Arts Departmental Award for Educational Excellence, the National Speakers Association's Jeanne Robertson Outstanding Communication Professor of 2000, and Who's Who Among America's Teachers.

"At Wooster I found a passion and motivation to study audiology so that eventually I can help individuals like me who are hard of hearing. The Communication Department faculty members gave me the encouragement and support I needed to feel that I could succeed even with my impairment." Jen Danhoffer, '08 Kennett Square, PA

Dr. Bostdorff has published two books, The Presidency and the Rhetoric of Foreign Crisis (1994) and Proclaiming the Truman Doctrine: The Cold War Call to Arms (forthcoming, 2008), as well as 20 scholarly essays and book chapters. Her most recent essays have focused on a failed PDR (purchase of development rights) campaign in Wayne County, Ohio; George W. Bush's covenant renewal rhetoric after 9/11; the Internet rhetoric of the Ku Klux Klan; George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton's messages about Haitian refugees; the use of politics-in-action projects in political rhetoric courses; and, with Steven Goldzwig of Marquette University, Ronald Reagan's appropriation of the memory of Martin Luther King, Jr., to justify changes in civil rights policies. In 2004, Dr. Bostdorff chaired the National Task Force on the Presidency in Times of Crisis. Its report will be published in 2008 in The Prospect of Presidential Rhetoric. In addition, Dr. Bostdorff serves on the editorial boards of The Quarterly Journal of Speech and the Rhetoric and Public Affairs Series at Michigan State University Press.

In the greater community, Dr. Bostdorff helped coach the middle school's academic challenge team in 2006 and coached the high school's Lincoln-Douglas debate team in 2007, continues to advise Stoney Creek 4-H Club, and volunteers at the Humane Society with her daughter, along with attending to political activities related to peace and justice. Dr. Bostdorff also remains active in the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Wayne County, which-in 2005-built the first green all-new construction house of worship in the United States, a fact that makes her very proud. Dr. Bostdorff, who grew up on a farm in Northwest Ohio, finds refuge in her gardens and with her husband, Dan O'Rourke, and kids, Morgan and Devin, along with Shadow the wonder dog.

Joan Furey is an assistant professor of communication at The College of Wooster, where she joined the faculty in 2007. Her research interests include early phonological and lexical development and poverty and its impact on speech and language development.

Prior to Wooster, Furey served on the faculty of Hofstra University. Her clinical experience has included diagnostic and therapeutic services to children in early intervention and preschool. Furey is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist in the State of Ohio and a member of the American Speech Language Hearing Association.

Dr. Furey earned her Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2003, her Master of Arts at the University of Pittsburgh in 1994 and her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Chicago in 1990.

James Hikins is a visiting professor in the department of communication at The College of Wooster. He spent the 2005-2006 academic year conducting research for a book on the history of rhetoric and worked on a paper for submission to the journal, "Philosophy and Rhetoric." Dr. Hikins is eager to get back into the classroom and to advise Wooster students, especially as they conduct their own research for their I.S.s

Dr. Hikins earned the B.A. (1975) and M.A. (1981) from the University of Iowa, and the Ph.D. (1985) from the University of Texas at Austin. Before joining the Wooster faculty, Dr. Hikins taught at the University of North Dakota, the Ohio State University, and Tulane University. The author of numerous journal articles, Dr. Hikins' books include "Communication and Knowledge: An Investigation in Rhetorical Epistemology" (co-authored, 1986) and "Remarks on the Development of Rhetoric" (1996).

Dr. Hikin's interests outside the classroom include astronomy (an avocation he has enjoyed since childhood) and cosmology. He is also an avid motorcyclist. The first week of August, one can usually find him at the motorcycle rally in Sturgis, South Dakota, getting in the proper "frame of mind" for the coming school year.

Michelle L. Johnson, Ph.D., began teaching at The College of Wooster in the fall of 1997 and is currently Chair of the Department of Communication. Prior to her arrival, she had taught at Hope College in Holland, Michigan, and at the University of Arizona where she earned both her M.A. (1995) and Ph.D. (1997). Her dissertation was entitled, "The Seeking of Social Support Between Same- and Cross-Sex Friends." Dr. Johnson graduated with her B.A. in interpersonal communication from Northeast Missouri State University, now known as Truman State University.

"I came to Wooster with no idea what my major was going to be. I was told by a senior in the Communication department to take a class and give the department a try. After that class, I was hooked. The professors, the classroom atmosphere, and the other students were exactly what I was looking for at Wooster. I have grown personally and academically through the constant support and guidance of all of the members of the Communication department. I would not change my experience for the world!" Lauren Tompkins, '06 Westlake, OH

Dr. Johnson's research interests lie in the areas of friendship and family relations, particularly in how people use communication to solicit social support from others and to deal with conflict. She has co-authored essays in Personal Relationships, Law and Society Review, and Communication Monographs, and has delivered several papers at professional conferences. Moreover, Dr. Johnson is a member of the National Communication Association, the International Communication Association, the International Society for the Study of Personal Relationships, and the International Network on Personal Relationships. Beginning in 1998, she assumed advising duties for the Department's Communication Club and Lambda Pi Eta chapter.

Dr. Johnson's free time is usually filled with athletic activities. She frequently can be found on the local soccer fields, likes to downhill ski, and plays softball in the summer for Zion Lutheran Church. A licensed pilot, Dr. Johnson also likes to fly when she gets the chance.

Rod Korba, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Communication who joined The College of Wooster faculty in 1987, after teaching at the United States Air Force Academy and Bowling Green State University. In 1986, Dr. Korba earned his doctorate from the University of Denver; the title of his dissertation was "The Rate of Inner Speech." He holds Master's degrees from the University of Southern California (1982) in communication arts and instructional technology, Arizona State University (1974) in art education, and the University of Denver (1973) in mass communication. His Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is from Denison University (1972) in communication arts.

Dr. Korba is a member of the National Communication Association and has twice served as the President of the Intrapersonal Communication Division. He is also a member of the Mass Communication Division and the Visual Information Commission. Dr. Korba has published research in The Journal of Perceptual and Motor Skills and has multiple book chapters. His interests are in media effects and film production, visual literacy, and the cognitive aspects of subvocalization and inner speech. He is currently conducting research on the measurement of tongue movement connected with subvocalization and drafting a textbook on intrapersonal communication processes.

"Coming from Los Angeles, attending college was not going to be the only challenge I was about face. I also had to adapt to a small town called Wooster. Facing these challenges turned out to be an experience that I will cherish for a lifetime. After taking one Communication class, I knew that this was the department for me. The Communication Department is a tight knit community that supports one another both academically and personally. This department has the ability to transform the average student into a scholar and for that, I will be forever grateful." Charmela Bryant, '06 Inglewood, CA

Dr. Korba is also a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force Reserve with NATO service in Bosnia. He has had multiple command assignments in Combat Camera and has worked for the Air Staff and the Secretary of the Air Force Office of Public Affairs at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.

Additionally, Dr. Korba has served on the Board of Directors for USLacrosse, the national governing body for the sport of lacrosse. He is the past President of USLacrosse Officials Council, an active NCAA lacrosse referee, and a former lacrosse All-America. Dr. Korba has coached lacrosse on both the high school and collegiate levels.

In his spare time, he enjoys construction projects, diving in Caribbean waters, creating the "perfect pizza," and catching up with the exploits of his family.

Arlene Luberoff is joining the Department of Communication as a part-time visiting instructor. Luberoff has over 20 years of experience in clinical practice, management, product development, and teaching. She has presented and published at both national and international conferences addressing topics in communicative competence with augmentative and alternative communication. She coauthored three vocabulary software programs for various electronic communication devices. Luberoff received a M.A. in speech-language pathology from University of Maryland (1985) with her thesis titled, VOT Distinctions in Mother-Child Speech. Her B.A. is from Columbia College (1983) in speech correction.

B.A. Columbia College 1983; M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology, University of Maryland 1985; M.A. in Psychology, Cleveland State University 2002.

Luberoff has earned an additional M.A. from Cleveland State University (2002) in psychology with a specialization in diversity management. Her thesis titled, Examining Cultural Competencies for Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists, was presented at a national conference.

Luberoff has also completed three certificate programs in Gestalt theory and practice to gain skills in a counseling approach when working with people with communicative disorders. These certificates include: Three Year Post Graduate Training Program in Gestalt Methods with Working with Physical Process specialization (October, 2003); Working with Individuals (May, 2004), and Train the Gestalt Trainer (May, 2005). Luberoff has also interned as faculty at the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland in the advanced track, Working with Individuals (December 2005-June 2006).

In addition to her part-time teaching responsibilities at the College of Wooster, Luberoff practices privately providing speech, language, feeding, and communication aid services to those with communication difficulties, and providing coaching to individuals wanting to improve creativity and productivity in workplace through understanding human differences and effective communication.

In her free time, Luberoff enjoys practicing yoga, taking walks, and cooking whole food meals. Luberoff also takes pleasure in reading about alternative medicine, design, and dance.

Patrice Smith started working for Departments of Communication and Theatre in December 2003 as Administrative Coordinator including supervisor for the Theatre Box Office staff. However, she started employment at The College of Wooster in November 1994, and has held positions as Account Payable Clerk and Student Account Assistant in the Business Office and part-time secretary in the Chemistry Department. During her years at The College of Wooster she has served on the United Way Campaign Committee and has attended OCPA conferences.

Currently, Patrice, her husband, Jeff, and two sons, Brian (age 19) and Kevin (age 18) are a host family to Jose, a first-year at The College of Wooster. Patrice is also volunteer for the Wooster Y.M.C.A. where she teaches teen fitness, Spinning, as well as water aerobics. Patrice has served on the City of Wooster Planning Committee, the United Way Steering Committee, and Masters Swim Team.

In addition to her volunteer and educational activities, Patrice competes in masters swimming, running and triathlon events. She has run 9 marathons including the Boston Marathon twice. She has swum the lengths of Lake Chautauqua, NY (18 miles) and Lake Charlevoix, MI (14 miles). She also swam across Lake Erie and around Key West, FL (12 miles). She placed first in the masters division in the Escape from Alcatraz race which included swimming from Alcatraz Island to San Francisco, CA.

Patrice and her husband, Jeff, airplane broker and developer, enjoy spending time with their family at their cottage in Charlevoix Michigan. Travel opportunities with her husband have included Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, India, and Germany, as well as locales in the U.S. Her other interests include skiing (snow and water), snowshoeing, and hiking with her two dogs (Max and Belle) . . . and she has the perfect job!