Dr. Stephen C. Wood
Professor of Communication and Film Studies

206 Davis Hall
Phone: (401) 874-4030
Fax: (401) 874-4722
Email: DocWood@uri.edu

Ph.D., University of Maryland, 1984
M.A., University of Maine, 1978
B.A., California State Polytechnic University, 1969

Research Interests: In a bibliography of rhetorical scholars, Dr. Wood was once categorized as an "eclectic rhetorical critic." Actually, that's very accurate since his research, while always rhetorical, has varied widely. His doctoral dissertation, for example, studied the technical mediating variables of television arguing a rhetorical intervention perspective. He has published articles and books on argumentation and debate, and has an entire line of research on the rhetorical dimensions of baseball as a cultural phenomenon. He has published articles on the early manifestations of the free speech and the trial of John Peter Zenger, and published research on Eisenhower, Reagan and Clinton. Dr. Wood published a book with Dr. David Pincus, Reel Baseball a seminal work exploring the cultural intersection of baseball and film from 1898 to present.

Dr. Wood joined URI in 1982 and served as director of intercollegiate debate for ten years prior to becoming department chair (1982-2004). His teaching interests include public speaking, advanced public speaking, interpersonal communication, television criticism, argumentation & debate, rhetoric of sports films, organizational communication and new applications of communication technology.

Dr. Wood is an award winning photographer; the following examples have won 1^st place in various art shows. Also, DocWood is a folk musician recording on the Neoga Music label.