Dr. Dan J. O'Neill - Department Chair
Department of Communication

I am a Communication Studies generalist who has taught at North Central College in Illinois and at Ferris State University in Michigan before coming to Youngstown State in the late 1960s.

Throughout most of my career I have tried to teach basic communication skills in a variety of course contexts from public speaking to interpersonal communication and small group communication. I have also had a life long interest in argumentation and critical thinking which I actively maintain academic interest in doing scholarship. My published scholarship includes a small number of books and articles focusing on teaching communication skills and the application of critical thinking and argumentation to oral communication.

One of my more interesting academic ideas was the development of a course entitled "The rhetoric of film." I teach students to critically evaluate contemporary films using a wide variety of critical perspectives. The fun of the course is choosing films that lend themselves to critical analysis and that are interesting for students to view.

In my private life I spend a lot of time with my wife showing and lure coursing our two Rhodesian Ridgebacks. We hope to return to the Westminster Kennel Club show in the near future with Tempest our youngest Ridgeback. I also enjoy a little golf and swimming as activities when time permits. And I like to cook special dinners from time to time.

~ Dr. Dan J. O'Neill