David R. Dedo , Associate Professor and Director of the Communication Resource Center
Ph. D., Rhetoric and Composition, Purdue University, 1990
M.A., English, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, 1985
B.A., English and History, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, 1984
My wife, Jae, a Ph.D. in Child Development and Family Studies, also teaches at Samford. She has published two collections of poetry written in her native language, Korean. In addition, she's involved in translating the works of other Korean writers into English. We have two teenage sons, Matthew and Michael, and a rambunctious beagle, Sparky, who serves as the official mascot of our department.
Over the past few years, I've become most interested in how technology impacts literacy practices, in particular writing. In fact, if we consider things like web pages, "writing" involves more than mere words on a page. "Writers" must consider other visual elements, like color, and even sound. Because I'm the Director of the Communication Resource Center, where Samford students can receive tutoring on writing and/or speaking assignments, I have a continual interest in one-to-one teaching and learning. I've worked as a director and tutor for over twenty years, and I believe this is my most valuable service to Samford students.
I enjoy teaching at Samford because we have the opportunity to form meaningful relationships with students, especially our majors in Communication Studies. That's not often the case at "mega-universities." Samford has allowed me to continue the work with students I value most highly.
Dr. Dedo's Honors/Awards/Professional Activities
- Director, Communication Resource Center
- Chief Report Writer, NCAA Self-Study, Fall 2001
- Writing Judge, Alabama Christian Education Association State Academic Competition
- Presenter, numerous national and international conferences, such as the International Writing Centers Association, Conference on College Composition and Communication, and Rhetoric Society of America
- Faculty Development Grant, Samford University
- Excellence in Teaching Award, Purdue University
- David Ross Research Grant, Purdue University
- Academic Excellence Grant, Purdue University
- Publication and Money Prizes, Novus Competition
- Sigma Tau Delta, the National English Honor Society. President, Xi-Xi Chapter, 1983-1984.
- Phi Alpha Theta, the National History Honor Society
