Communication @ Hope College

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Communication Department - Faculty Profiles

Photo of DJ Dr. Deirdre Johnston, Chair
johnston@hope.edu

Specialty areas: Persuasion, Interpersonal Communication, Conflict, Mass Media Effects, and Motherhood Research

Dr. Johnston began her study of Communication at Drake University, where she acquired her BA in Journalism in 1983. Her MA in Communication was completed at the University of Texas in 1985, and she earned her Ph.D. in Communication at the University of Iowa in 1988.

Courses instructed by Dr. Johnston include:

  • COMM 101 - Introduction to the Communication Process
  • COMM 210 - Interpersonal Communication
  • COMM 280 - Research Methods
  • COMM 360 - The Art & Science of Persuasion
  • COMM 371 - Communication Across Differences: Intercultural & Gender
  • COMM 460 - Rhetoric and Communication Theory
Recent publications by Dr. Johnston include:
  • "Adolescents' Motivations for Viewing Graphic Horror" (in: Human Communication Research, 21, 522-551.
  • The Art and Science of Persuasion. (McGraw-Hill Publishers)
  • "Mothering in the Ivy Tower: Interviews with Academic Mothers" (in Journal of Association for Research on Mothering, December 2003; with Dr. Debra Swanson).
  • "Invisible Mothers: A Content Analysis of Motherhood Ideologies and Myths in Magazines" (in Sex Roles: A Journal of Research, Vol. 49, July 2003; with Dr. Debra Swanson).
  • "Undermining Mothers: A Content Analysis of the Representation of Mothers in Magazines" (in Mass Communication & Society, Vol. 6, 2003; with Dr. Debra Swanson).

 

Photo of DJ Dr. James A. Herrick
The Guy VanderJagt Professor of Communication
herrick@hope.edu

Specialty Areas: Rhetoric, Argumentation

Dr. Herrick began his teaching career at Hope College in 1984, after attaining his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin. His BA was issued by California State University in 1976, and the University of California awarded his MA in 1979. Dr. Herrick served as chair of the Hope College Department of Communication from 1993-2003.

Dr. Herrick's Curriculum Vitae

Courses instructed by Dr. Herrick include:

FYS - Science Fiction: Stories as Persuasive Messages Syllabus
SENIOR SEMINAR - Worldviews in Collision
COMM 160 - Analytic Skills in Communication Syllabus
COMM 261 - Advanced Analytic Skills in Communication
COMM 395 - Rhetoric and Popular Culture
COMM 460 - Rhetorical and Communication Theory

Recent publications by Dr. Herrick include:

  • The Making of the New Spirituality (InterVarsity Press, 2003)
  • Radical Rhetoric of English Deists (Univ. of South Carolina Press, 1997)
  • The History and Theory of Rhetoric (Allyn & Bacon, 1996)
  • Argumentation (Allyn & Bacon, 1995)
  • Critical Thinking (Allyn & Bacon, 1990)

A webpage based on Professor Herrick's History and Theory of Rhetoric

Essays and Editorials written by Dr. Herrick

Dr. Christian Spielvogel
spielvogel@hope.edu

Specialty areas: Media Studies; Rhetoric; Theory and Practice of Alternative Dispute Resolution

Christian Spielvogel joined the Hope College faculty in 2000. Dr. Spielvogel received his BA in Speech Communication and History from Pennsylvania State University in 1992 and his MA in Speech Communication in 1997 from Penn State University. He received his doctorate in Communication Arts & Sciences from Penn State University in May 2003.

Courses instructed by Professor Spielvogel include:

  • COMM 101 - The Communication Process
  • COMM 295 - Communication and Conflict
  • COMM 395 - Film Criticism
  • COMM 451 - Mass Media Theory & Criticism

Photo of DDB Dr. Isolde K. Anderson
andersoni@hope.edu

Specialty Areas: Organizational Communication, Small Groups, Family Communication, and Interpersonal Communication

Dr. Anderson joined the Hope faculty in 2003 after completing her Ph.D. in Communication at Northwestern University in 2002. She is an ordained minister in the Evangelical Covenant Church having completed her Masters of Divinity at North Park University. Her undergraduate degree in Geology was earned at Smith College.

Courses instructed by Dr. Anderson include:

  • COMM 101 - Introduction to the Communication Process
  • COMM 220 - Task Group Leadership
  • COMM 330 - Organizational Communication

Dr. David Schock
schock@hope.edu

Specialty Areas: Broadcast Journalism, Video and Audio Production, Mass Media Issues, Jazz, Creative Writing

Dr. Schock joined the department in the fall of 2000, coming from a private practice as a script writer and video producer. He earned his doctorate in creative writing and literary criticism under the aegis of Dr. Russell Kirk through International College (now closed). He holds a master's in journalism from Central Michigan University and a bachelor's in Religion from Albion College. Dr. Schock formerly taught as an adjunct faculty member in Hope's English Department. He also taught Broadcast Journalism and English Composition at Central Michigan University from 1985 through 1991.

Courses instructed by Dr. Schock include:

  • COMM 151 - Introduction to Mass Media
  • COMM 251 - Media Production I
  • COMM 352 - Media Production II/III
  • COMM 357 - Broadcast News and Documentary

Photo of DDB Dawn DeWitt-Brinks
ddbrinks@hope.edu

Specialty Area: Public Speaking

Professor DeWitt-Brinks received her B.A. degree from Hope College and went on to earn her M.A. at Western Michigan University. She began teaching at Hope College in 1989. Professor DeWitt-Brinks also acted as divisional recruiter for the Social Science Division at Hope College. Currently, in addition to her teaching at Hope, Professor DeWitt- Brinks serves as a presentational consultant for local corporations.

Courses instructed by Professor DeWitt-Brinks include:

  • COMM 140 - Public Presentations

Rob Pocock
pocock@hope.edu

Specialty Areas: Public Speaking and Public Relations

Rob Pocock is an adjunct faculty member at Hope College in both Communication and Political Science. Mr. Pocock received his bachelor's degree in Political Science from Hope College and his master's degree in Communication from Michigan State University. He began teaching at Hope College in 1989. Mr. Pocock spent two decades working for West Michigan advertising agencies. Presently, he is Associate Vice President of Marketing at Priority Health, West Michigan's largest managed care company. Mr. Pocock is an executive coach through Nancy Skinner & Associates, a leadership development firm in Grand Rapids,MI.

Courses instructed by Professor Pocock include :

Rebecca DeVries
rdevries@hope.edu

Specialty Areas: Interpersonal Communication, Research Methods, Ethics in Communication

Rebecca DeVries has been a part-time faculty member since fall 2002. Professor DeVries received her Bachelor of Science degree in Scientific and Technical Communication from Michigan Technological University in 1994. She is currently working to finish her Master's thesis in Interpersonal Communication at Western Michigan University and plans to graduate in spring 2004. She has worked as a technical writer and independent consultant for the software industry prior to starting her graduate studies.

Courses instructed by Professor DeVries include:

  • COMM 210 - Interpersonal Communication
  • COMM 280 - Research Methods

Mark Lewison
mlewison@gr-press.com

Specialty Areas: Print Media, Journalism

Mr. Lewison joined the Communication Department in fall 2001 as a part-time faculty member. He received his Master of Arts in Journalism from the University of Michigan. Mr. Lewison has more than 25 years' experience in the journalism field as a writer and editor and currently works full time for the Grand Rapids Press.

In addition to serving as the advisor to the ANCHOR, courses instructed by Professor Lewison include:

  • COMM 255 - Print Media I

Jeff Japinga
jjapinga@rca.org

Specialty Areas: Print Media, Journalism

Jeff Japinga is an adjunct faculty member at Hope College. Professor Japinga received his bachelor's degree in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University. He later earned a master of divinity degree from New Brunswick Theological Seminary and a doctor of ministry degree in executive leadership from McCormick Theological Seminary. Professor Japinga was editor and publisher of the Church Herald, the magazine serving the Reformed Church in America, and was twice honored by the Evangelical Press Association for editorial writing. He was also associate editor of Guideposts magazine. He is currently minister for education and faith development for the Reformed Church in America.

Courses instructed by Professor Japinga include:

  • COMM 356 - Print Media II

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