Robert E. Patterson

Assistant Professor, General Faculty

Office phone: 434-924-6169
e-mail: rep2z@virginia.edu

Education:

Ph.D., Communication Studies (Rhetoric and Culture), University of Nebraska-Lincoln
M.A., Communication, University of Oklahoma
B.A., Political Science and Speech Communication, Texas State University

Areas of Expertise:

Professor Patterson has experiences in both academic and nonprofit corporation work. He teaches courses in McIntire's Management Communication Program. His professional experiences in academia have included teaching courses in rhetoric, rhetorical theory and criticism, fundamental areas of communication, campaigns, small-group problem solving, business and professional communication, and public speaking. Mr. Patterson’s professional experiences in the nonprofit sector include nonprofit [501(c)(3)] executive management and leadership and postsecondary accreditation/compliance.

Professional Activities:

Professor Patterson’s teaching, professional, and scholarly interests include business and professional communication, persuasion, rhetorical and cultural theory, public speaking, cultural studies, intercultural communication, technical communication and writing, the analysis of public and organizational discourse, communication assessment, communication pedagogy, and executive leadership. He is active in a number of professional societies exploring the study of communication knowledge and the application of communication skills.

Selected Publications:

“Duty of Hope: Armies of Compassion.” In T. Burkholder (ed.), The Rhetorical Legacy of George W. Bush (working title). Michigan State University Press (Rhetoric & Public Affairs book series), forthcoming, 2007 (with R. Lee).

“The Genealogy of Social-Conservative Argumentation: Demonstrating the Family Resemblance among Three Influential Discourses.” In G. T. Goodnight (ed.), Arguing Communication and Culture: Selected Papers (Vol. 2) (pp. 247-495). Washington, DC: National Communication Association, 2002 (with R. Lee).

Using Presentation Software in Public Speaking. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's Press, 2000.

“The Environmental Rhetoric of 'Balance': A Case Study of Regulatory Discourse and Colonization of the Public.” In N. Coppola (ed.), Technical Communication, Deliberative Rhetoric, and Environmental Discourse: Connections and Directions. Stamford, CT: Ablex Publishing, 2000 (with R. Lee).

“The Environmental Rhetoric of 'Balance': A Case Study of Regulatory Discourse and the Colonization of the Public.” Technical Communication Quarterly, 1997 (with R. Lee).

“A Theory-Based Explanation of Human Orientations to Technology and Their Impact on Relationship Development within Organizations.” Massachusetts Journal of Communication, 1994.