Conspiracy theories and public speaking pique prof's interests
Monica Collin
Issue date: 4/22/08 Section: Campus News
While Van Horn says she "will be a professor until they kick me out," she also has other goals she wants to accomplish.
She hopes to have her dissertation published as a book, giving her the opportunity to appear on The Daily Show. She would also like to branch out and study conspiracy rhetoric theories, restrictions on the First Amendment, protest rhetoric and intercultural communication. In addition, she would like to spend more time studying the fringe or marginal rhetorics that exist in society.
Van Horn says that she has two mentors, her speech teacher Bob Vartabedian, and her advisor at Georgia State who is directing her dissertation, James Darsey. She said Vartabedian was a fantastic speech teacher who inspired her.
"He was so enthusiastic in class and took such a personal interest in me and what I was doing, it compelled me to perform to my optimal ability," Van Horn said.
Van Horn tries to structure part of her teaching style after Vartabedian because she learned so much from him.
Van Horn said she thinks her students would agree that she is incredibly enthusiastic in class. She tries to bring a lot of energy to public speaking, and like all communications professors, practices an open-door policy outside of class.
"I really do want my students to succeed, but they have to meet me halfway," Van Horn said, adding that she holds study sessions to help students with their work.
Van Horn said she chose to teach at UT Martin because this is the place where she felt at home with the faculty, and the environment felt welcoming and comfortable to her. Here she says she can have a symbiotic relationship between teaching and finishing her dissertation.
In the fall, Van Horn will be teaching another course in addition to public speaking. She will co-teach the 2008 Presidential Election and Media course with Richard Robinson. She will teach the rhetoric and persuasion part of the course and Robinson will teach the media part.
Van Horn said her outlook on teaching at UTM is the same as her outlook on life.
"Love the people in your life. Love what you do. Love what you've been given," she said.
She hopes to have her dissertation published as a book, giving her the opportunity to appear on The Daily Show. She would also like to branch out and study conspiracy rhetoric theories, restrictions on the First Amendment, protest rhetoric and intercultural communication. In addition, she would like to spend more time studying the fringe or marginal rhetorics that exist in society.
Van Horn says that she has two mentors, her speech teacher Bob Vartabedian, and her advisor at Georgia State who is directing her dissertation, James Darsey. She said Vartabedian was a fantastic speech teacher who inspired her.
"He was so enthusiastic in class and took such a personal interest in me and what I was doing, it compelled me to perform to my optimal ability," Van Horn said.
Van Horn tries to structure part of her teaching style after Vartabedian because she learned so much from him.
Van Horn said she thinks her students would agree that she is incredibly enthusiastic in class. She tries to bring a lot of energy to public speaking, and like all communications professors, practices an open-door policy outside of class.
"I really do want my students to succeed, but they have to meet me halfway," Van Horn said, adding that she holds study sessions to help students with their work.
Van Horn said she chose to teach at UT Martin because this is the place where she felt at home with the faculty, and the environment felt welcoming and comfortable to her. Here she says she can have a symbiotic relationship between teaching and finishing her dissertation.
In the fall, Van Horn will be teaching another course in addition to public speaking. She will co-teach the 2008 Presidential Election and Media course with Richard Robinson. She will teach the rhetoric and persuasion part of the course and Robinson will teach the media part.
Van Horn said her outlook on teaching at UTM is the same as her outlook on life.
"Love the people in your life. Love what you do. Love what you've been given," she said.
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