ANTCZAK NAMED RSA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

ANTCZAK NAMED RSA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 

I am thrilled to announce that Frederick J. Antczak, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan, has been named the next Executive Director of the Rhetoric Society of America. Antczak will begin his appointment during the summer of 2012 and will serve a renewable four-year term.  He will succeed Gregory Clark, who has held the position since 2008. 

Fred Antczak is a long-term member of RSA and was president of the Society in 2000-2001.  Many of RSA's moves to become the umbrella organization for rhetorical studies began with activities undertaken during his presidency.  His deanships at Grand Valley and earlier at the University of Iowa have given him valuable leadership skills ranging from strategic planning to the management of change.  RSA will benefit greatly from this experience.  Fred's own scholarship includes the book "Thought and Character: The Rhetoric of Democratic Education". 

Antczak was chosen for this position unanimously and enthusiastically by the RSA Board of Directors, on the recommendation of the search committee.  The search committee was chaired by Krista Ratcliffe and included Patricia Bizzell, Pamela Conners, Gerard Hauser, Shawn Parry-Giles, and Jack Selzer.  We all look forward to working closely with Fred Antczak. 

Although there will be opportunities for more formal recognition, we cannot thank Greg Clark enough for his exemplary service for 4 years as our Executive Director and before that 8 years as the editor of our journal.  The Society is greatly in his debt for his energetic and outstanding service. 

David Zarefsky
RSA President