Michael Dreher
Email: mdreher@bethel.edu
Job Title
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Professor of Communication Emeritus
Communication Studies, College of Arts and Sciences
Highlight
Dreher's research and publishing have focused on political and religious rhetoric, the rhetoric of mathematics and science, and forensic pedagogy. He is also interested in issues of web accessibility and standards.
Started at Bethel
1997
Education
- North Central College - B.A. in Speech Communication/Theater, Mathematics, 1989
- University of Iowa - M.A. in Communication Studies, 1992
- Louisiana State University - Ph.D. in Speech Communication, 1995
Courses Taught
Undergraduate:
- Senior Seminar
- Topics in Communication Analysis (Rhetoric of Disasters, Myth and Value Analysis, Rhetoric of Social Movements)
- Television Criticism
- Persuasion
- Rhetoric of Religion
- Advanced Public Speaking
- Political Communication
- Rhetoric of Science and Technology
- Basic Communication
- Argumentation & Debate
- Concepts of Community (Honors Program course)
- Introduction to Rhetoric and Public Influence
Graduate:
- Thesis/Project
- Introduction to Graduate Studies
- Topics in Communication Studies
- Qualitative Research Methods
- Quantitative Research Methods
- Public Presentations
Awards
2019 - Faculty Access Award (for work with the Office of Accessibility Resources and Services)
2014 - President's Award for outstanding service to the National Forensics Association and the forensics community, The National Forensic Association
2011 - Bethel Faculty Excellence Award for Service
2003 - Outstanding Coach Award, National Christian College Forensics Invitational
Publications
Most recent:
Dreher, Michael. "Turning the Principles of Action Into Practice: Examining the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics' Reform Rhetoric." Book chapter in Arguing with Numbers, Eds. James Wynn and Mitchell Reyes. State College, PA: Penn State University Press. Book has been accepted by PSU Press.
Editorial Board service:
- Associate Editor, National Forensic Journal and Parliamentary Debate.
Invited Reviewer: Communication Quarterly, Wisconsin Communication Association Journal, Kentucky Communication Association Journal.
Presentations
More than 35 presentations at state, regional and national conferences. Most recent: "Turning the Principles of Action into Practice: Examining the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Reform Rhetoric." Presented at the Alta Argumentation Conference, Snowbird, UT, August 2015.
Certificates and Licenses
- Approved by the National Communication Association as an external reviewer for departments of communication.
Professional Organizations, Committees, and Boards
- Board of Governors, Communication and Theater Association of Minnesota (2012-2014)
- Tournament Director, National Christian College Forensics Invitational (2002-2008, 2016-present)
- Secretary/Webmaster, Council of Forensic Organizations (2008-present)
- Mounds View Curriculum Advisory Committee (2015-present)
- Co-Coach, Bel Air Elementary Chess Club, New Brighton, MN (2018-present)
Hobbies and Interests
Favorite religious book (other than Bible): I find myself coming back to Marilyn Helleberg's God's Best for You.
Favorite non-religious book: Almost any Peanuts collection of comics. I think I have about 175 books by now. That doesn't include the 26-volume Fantagraphics set.
Other interests: Reading, photography (especially sports photography of my son's traveling sports teams), chess
Research interests
In addition to teaching, Dreher is director of the forensics program. His research and publishing have focused on political and religious rhetoric, the rhetoric of mathematics and science, and forensic pedagogy. He is also interested in issues of web accessibility and standards.