Knowledgeable and truly inspiring educator.
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Michael Smith serves as Professor and Director of the School of Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication at James Madison University, a position he has held while contributing to the institution since 2004. His academic background includes a B.A. in English from Knox College in 1994 and an M.F.A. in English from Pennsylvania State University in 2000. University catalogs further note an M.A. from Miami University and a Ph.D. from the University of Arizona. Smith's professional focuses span first-year writing, personal narrative, narrative journalism, the cultural history and impact of American comics, graphic novels and graphic literature, and attention and digital media ethics. These interests inform his teaching and research, preparing students for professional writing careers in diverse sectors including engineering companies, publishing houses, and environmental organizations.
Smith's scholarly output is extensive, with publications in peer-reviewed journals and edited volumes centered on popular culture, comics studies, and cultural criticism. Key works include 'Being Godzilla' published in Writing on the Edge (2022), ''Driven to Sin': Victor Hugo’s Complex Vision in Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame' in The Disney Versions (2016), 'Embracing Dionysius in Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing' in Studies in the Novel (2015), 'What Does a Starship Need With God?' in Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek: The Original Cast Adventures (2015), and 'Bruce Banner on the Couch: Dubious Psychologizing, The Drama of the Gifted Child, and the Rise of the 'Victim Culture' in the 1980s and 1990s' in The Ages of the Incredible Hulk (2015). Additional contributions encompass ''More Human Than (Super) Human': Streamlining Superman and American Identity in the Reagan Era' in Ages of Superman (2012), 'Finding the Joker' in Riddle Me This, Batman! (2011), and numerous articles for Antiques Roadshow Insider between 2002 and 2011 on topics such as collectibles, Mark Twain memorabilia, and cultural icons. Earlier pieces appeared in Better Nutrition, Richmond Magazine, and SeniorSource. Recently, Smith was elected chair for nonfiction in the Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association, underscoring his influence in cultural studies. His editorial and pedagogical roles further enhance the WRTC program's reputation for rigorous training in rhetoric and technical communication.
James Madison University is hiring a tenured Academic Unit Head for its School of Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication. The 12-month role begins July 1, 2027, with application review starting November 9, 2026.
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