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Faculty


Theodore Matula

Department Chair
(415) 422-5809

Ted Matula earned his PhD in Communication from The Ohio State University, specializing in rhetorical theory and its usefulness in studying popular...

Education:

PhD, Communication, Ohio State University

Expertise:

Rhetorical theory and its usefulness in studying popular culture

Courses:

Rhetoric & the Public Sphere, Ethics in Prof. Communication, Capstone/Culminating, Public Speaking, FYS: First-Year Seminar, Rhet/Popular Culture

Brian Komei Dempster

Professor
(415) 422-6042

His work—as a poet, workshop instructor, and editor—has been recognized by grants from the Arts Foundation of Michigan and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, the California State Library's California Civil Liberties Public Education Program, the Center for Cultural Innovation, and the San Francisco Arts Commission.

Courses:

Capstone Project, Directed Study, Written & Oral Communication, Written and Oral Communication, FYS: First-Year Seminar

Leslie Dennen

Associate Professor
(415) 422-6011

Leslie Dennen is the director of the Writing Center and Associate Professor in the Department of Rhetoric and Language. She received her Masters...

Education:

Doctorate in Education, USF | MA, Teaching English as a Second Language and Certificate in Composition, San Francisco State University

Courses:

Editing & Proofreading Skills, Writing Center for Credit, Written Communication I, Written Communication II, Written & Oral Communication, Written and Oral Communication, Writing Center Tutoring, Directed Study, Writing Center Tutoring

Doreen Ewert

Professor, AEM Director
(415) 422-2607

Doreen Ewert has an MA in English Literature from the University of Notre Dame and a PhD in TESOL and Applied Linguistics from Indiana University....

Education:

PhD, TESOL and Applied Linguistics, Indiana University | MA, English Literature, University of Notre Dame

Courses:

US Cult:Understand/Neg New Lan, Fluency Development, Academic Oral Comm II, Introduction to Composition, How Language Works, Directed Study, Expedition USF

Cathy Gabor

Associate Professor, Composition Director
(415) 422-6684

Cathy Gabor received a BA in English from Bethany College in West Virginia, an MA in English from Indiana University, and a PhD in Rhetoric and...

Education:

MA in English, Indiana University | PhD in Rhetoric and Composition, Texas Christian University

Courses:

Written Comm I Intensive, Written Communication II, Written & Oral Communication, Written and Oral Communication, Academic Writing at USF, S.I.T. Seminar for Transfer Students, Business & Technical Writing, Expedition USF

Nicole Gonzales Howell

Assistant Professor
(415) 422-4984

Much of Nicole's research has focused on the importance of considering social location (race, gender, class, ability, and sexuality) of both students and teachers and how it relates to many aspects of writing instruction, teacher affect, program administration, and in particular writing assessment.

Education:

PhD in Composition and Cultural Rhetoric, Syracuse University | MA English with a certificate in Composition, California State University, Fresno | BA in Language and Literature, University of Southern California

Courses:

Public Speaking, Written Communication I, Written Comm I Intensive, Written Communication II, FYS: First-Year Seminar, S.I.T. Seminar for Transfer Students

Philip Hanson

Associate Professor
(415) 422-2126

Professor Philip Hanson's research and written works have made him one of the foremost experts in the fields of expository writing and twentieth...

Education:

PhD, English, University of California, Berkeley, 1993

Courses:

Written & Oral Communication, Written and Oral Communication, Academic Writing at USF

David Holler

Professor
(415) 422-5995

David Holler serves as the Director of the Martín–Baró Scholars Program, a living-learning community for first-year students which covers five core...

Courses:

Martin Baro Scholars Prog, Davies Seminar, MB Scholars: Wrtg/Spkg in Cmty, MBS: Wrtg/Spkg in Cmty, "Writing for a Real World" Editing and Production Workshop, Directed Study

Devon Holmes

Term Professor
(415) 422-5638

Devon Holmes, Professor of Rhetoric and Language, holds a BA in English from the University of Southern California, an MA in Rhetoric from Carnegie...

Education:

PhD in Rhetoric, Composition, and the Teaching of English, University of Arizona | MA in Rhetoric, Carnegie Mellon University | BA in English, University of Southern California

Courses:

Public Speaking, Written & Oral Communication, Written and Oral Communication

Jacquelyn Horton

Assistant Professor
(415) 422-6243

 

Courses:

Public Speaking, Written & Oral Communication, Written and Oral Communication, Speaking Center Internship

Jonathan Hunt

Term Associate Professor
(415) 422-6685

Jonathan Hunt teaches public speaking and composition courses in the Department of Rhetoric and Language at USF. He also teaches courses focused on...

Education:

PhD in World Literature and Cultural Studies, UC Santa Cruz | BA in English, Dartmouth College

Courses:

FYS: First-Year Seminar, Public Speaking, Written Comm I Intensive, Expedition USF

Tika Lamsal

Assistant Professor
(415) 422-2576

Tika Lamsal received his Master's in English literature from Tribhuvan University, Nepal in 1997 and taught at the Central Department of English,...

Education:

MA in English Literature, Tribhuvan University, Nepal, 1997 | PhD in Rhetoric and Composition, University of Louisville, Kentucky

Courses:

Grad Wrtg/Speaking Pract, Grad Wrtg/Speaking Pract, Cross-Cultural Business Comm., Introduction to Composition, Intro to Composition Intensive, Written Communication II

Michelle LaVigne

Term Associate Professor, Public Speaking Director
(415) 422-4366

Michelle LaVigne's writing/research focuses on the intersection of dance, rhetoric, and performance. In particular, she writes about the persuasive...

Courses:

Directed Study, Foundations of Communication, Ethics in Prof. Communication, Rhetoric Seminar, Capstone/Culminating, Strategic Communication, Public Speaking, Writing in the Arts, Argumentation and Advocacy, SYM: Public Speaking

Genevieve Leung

Associate Professor
(415) 422-6674

Genevieve Leung is the director of Asian Pacific American Studies and affiliated faculty in the Asian Pacific Studies MA program. She has a BA in...

Education:

PhD, Educational Linguistics, University of Pennsylvania | MA, Linguistics and Education, University of California, Davis | BA, Linguistics, University of California, Berkeley

Courses:

Research Methods, Directed Study, Directed Study, Qualitative Research Methods, Language & Social Interaction, Academic Discussion Workshop, Written Communication I, Written Comm I Intensive, FYS: First-Year Seminar, Asians and Pacific Islanders in U.S. Society

Thomas Lugo

Assistant Professor
(415) 422-6016

Tom Lugo holds a BA from UC Irvine (English), an MA from Georgetown (Brit. lit.) and a PhD from Univ. of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign in writing...

Courses:

Foreword: Writing, Oral Communication Skills II, Oral Communication Skills III, Introduction to Composition, Written Communication I, Written Comm I Intensive, Written Communication II, USBCC Communication Skills

Theodore Matula

Associate Professor, Department Chair of Rhetoric and Language
(415) 422-5809

Ted Matula earned his PhD in Communication from The Ohio State University, specializing in rhetorical theory and its usefulness in studying popular...

Education:

PhD, Communication, Ohio State University

Expertise:

Rhetorical theory and its usefulness in studying popular culture

Courses:

Rhetoric & the Public Sphere, Ethics in Prof. Communication, Capstone/Culminating, Public Speaking, FYS: First-Year Seminar, Rhet/Popular Culture

Leigh Meredith

Assistant Professor

Leigh Meredith earned her PhD in Communication Studies, specializing in Rhetoric and Public Culture, from Northwestern University. Her research and...

Education:

PhD, Communication Studies, Rhetoric and Public Culture, Northwestern University | BA, English Literature, Princeton University

Courses:

Public Speaking, Written & Oral Communication, Written and Oral Communication, S.I.T. Seminar for Transfer Students

Mark Meritt

Professor
(415) 422-5029

Mark Meritt, Professor of Rhetoric and Language, holds a BA in English from Cornell University, an MA in English from the UC Santa Barbara, and a PhD...

Education:

PhD, English, University of Oregon | MA, English, UC Santa Barbara | BA, English, Cornell University

Courses:

Written Communication I, Written Communication II, Writing Practicum, Adv Writing Practicum

Michael Rozendal

Associate Professor
(415) 422-5431

Michael Rozendal's interest in communities of writers has fuelled his recent first year seminars "Writing San Francisco: Bohemia, Counterculture,...

Courses:

Directed Study, Erasmus Community, Erasmus Community, Public Speaking, Written & Oral Communication, Written and Oral Communication, FYS: First-Year Seminar

David Ryan

Assistant Professor
(415) 422-5524

David Ryan serves as the Academic Director and Faculty Chair for the Professional Communication and Certificate in Professional Communication...

Courses:

Directed Study, Rhetoric Seminar, Capstone/Culminating, Strategic Communication, Leadership and Communication, Technical Communication, Digital Communication, Usability Testing/UX Research, Emergent Media and Technology, Directed Study, Public Speaking, Business & Technical Writing, Executive Strategic Communications

Julie Sullivan

Assistant Professor
(415) 422-5773

Courses:

Special Topics, Foreword: Writing, Written Communication I, Written Communication II, Written & Oral Communication, Written and Oral Communication, FYS: First-Year Seminar, S.I.T. Seminar for Transfer Students

Stephanie Vandrick

Professor
(415) 422-2407

Stephanie Vandrick teaches in the AEM Program in the Department of Rhetoric and Language. Professor Vandrick received a double MA in English...

Courses:

Academic Reading/Writing III, Intro to Composition Intensive

Contact Info

Department of Rhetoric and Language

Kalmanovitz Hall 202, 2130 Fulton Street, San Francisco, CA 94117-1082 (415) 422-6243 (415) 422-5246