The Inauguration of Michael T. Benson - September 21, 2007

Presidential Rhetoric Panel Discussion

9:00 a.m., Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Sharwan Smith Center Living Room

Three top national academics will join Dr. Michael Benson in a lively discussion of main themes in the study of American Presidents and how they communicate. Benson's investigation of Harry Truman, along with Dr. Gwin's examination of inaugural addresses, Dr. Barton's study of President Clinton's apologies for his moral diversions, and Dr. Erickson's insightful examination of the crazy things some President's do, are all expected to provoke an energetic, humorous and insightful dialogue that will showcase the new President of SUU as a careful scholar among his peers in the American Academy.

Discussion Participants

Matt Barton, Ph. D. Associate Professor of Communication, Southern Utah University
Understanding Presidential Apologia: Bill Clinton's Rhetoric of Contrition
Matt Barton was recently promoted to the rank of Associate Professor in the Communication Department at SUU. He has published work in Communication Education, Politics & Religion, and Presidential Rhetoric & Popular Culture. Dr. Barton has authored numerous conference papers, and is currently co-authoring a text book on public speaking for Allyn & Bacon Press. In addition to his research, Dr. Barton teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses and he was recognized as SUU's Outstanding Educator in 2005. After completing his undergraduate work at SUU, Dr. Barton earned his Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska.

Stan Gwin, Ph.D. Professor of Communication, Southern Utah University
Presidential Inaugurals as Epideictic Address: Comparing Ronald Reagan and Woodrow Wilson.
Dr. Gwin has been Professor of Communication at Southern Utah University since 2001. His specialties are Public Relations and Corporate and Political Communication, and prior to his service at SUU, Dr. Gwin taught at the University of Virginia, the University of West Virginia, the University of Southern Mississippi and the University of Florida. His education is from the University of Tennessee, University of Southern Mississippi, and he earned his Ph.D. from the University of Florida. Dr. Gwin has published 33 articles, 3 book chapters, read 38 competitive papers, had 14 grants funded (c. $270,000), and conducted more than 150 consulting and training programs. He has research interests in Basic Skill Development and Political Rhetoric.

Michael T. Benson, D.Phil., Southern Utah University President
Harry S. Truman and the Founding of Israel
Dr. Benson was named as the 15th president of SUU on November 10, 2006 by the Utah State Board of Regents. Prior to that, he was the president of Snow College, when he became the youngest president in the history of the Utah System of Higher Education at the age of 36. Before Snow, he served as Special Assistant to the President and Secretary to the University of Utah, and was a leader in producing major gifts for the University. President Benson also served as the Chair of the Mountain States Association of Community Colleges, and as a consulting historian to the Harry S. Truman Library in Independence, Missouri. He is also a professor in the Political Science department, and received his Doctor of Philosphy in modern Middle Eastern History at St. Anthony’s College at the University of Oxford.

Keith V. Erickson, Ph.D., Professor of Speech Communication, Southern Mississippi University
The Rhetorical Presidency and Performative Theatre
Dr. Keith V. Erickson is Professor of Speech Communication at the University of Southern Mississippi, a position he has held since 1986. Dr. Erickson received his BA in Speech & Theatre at Washington State University, his MA in Speech Communication at Pennsylvania State University, and his D.Ed.in Communication at the University of Michigan. Prior to USM, Dr. Erickson has taught at the University of Houston and Texas Tech University. He is the author or editor of six books, forty-four essays, and approximately seventy professional papers. His research interests focus on rhetorical theory and its application to political communication.

Discussion Chair

Suzanne Larson, Ph.D. Professor of Communication, Southern Utah University
Dr. Larson is the Graduate Director of the Master of Professional Communication program at SUU. She has taught in higher academe for over thirty years, including courses in political communication. Currently, she is studying the Iranian cartoon contest denying the holocaust and has recently presented and published papers on Hurricane Katrina. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Oregon.

For more information: contact burt@suu.edu or call 435-586-1997 to acquire news releases about Inauguration week.