About Me

After receiving a comprehensive B.A. in organizational communication and public relations, minoring in technical writing, from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, I relocated with my beloved husband Jim to Ohio University in Athens, OH, where I earned an M.A. in Communication Theory and a Ph.D. in Organizational Communication (additional emphases in rhetoric and quantitative methods).  For several years, we lived and worked in St. Louis, MO before returning to the Midwest.  Since returning to teaching after my corporate work in St. Louis, I have been fortunate enough to teach internationally at Bergen University in Oslo, Norway, as well as at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, NZ for the 2005-06 school year.

Professional Background/Teaching Philosophy

Having worked in various professions ranging from radio and television broadcaster, day care teacher, corporate consultant, database marketing manager, and contract security officer to faculty member at five different universities, I enjoy investigating the ‘applied’ aspects of communication in my teaching and research.  As a former marketer, one of the great joys of my current position at WSU is helping students market themselves through career advising, resume/interviewing/salary negotiation workshops, and one-on-one discussion about how best to utilize a major or minor in communication studies.

Although I usually identify myself as an applied researcher with interests in organizational communication, I simultaneously remain enchanted by theory (particularly rhetorical theory), and love exploring the power of theory with students.  My goals in any course I teach are first, to share my passion for communication studies with students of all majors, and second, to assist students to find their place in work (and in the world) in any way I can.

Research/Professional Interests

I am always interested in the ways that organizations shape internal and external messages to reach various publics.  To that end, I investigate everything from viral videos to corporate culture to e-recruiting.

As a consultant, I have worked with many professional groups in the non-profit, government, and for-profit sectors on issues ranging from conflict management, legal recruiting and interview practices, and professional presentation skills to marketing strategy and integrated marketing communication.

Publications/Other Scholarship Submissions Currently Under Review

Submissions Currently Under Review
 
Rahoi-Gilchrest, Rita L. (2007, August). Indigenous voices, speaking to the
mediated masses: The successes and struggles of New Zealand’s Maori TV. Book chapter final draft submitted to editor Kevin Howley for the book Globalization and communicative democracy: Community media in the 21st century (Sage Publications).
 
Rahoi-Gilchrest, Rita L. (2007, August). Review of Women, Philanthropy and Social Change: Visions for a Just Society, E. Clift, Ed. Manuscript under review at Communication for Development and Social Change: The Global Journal.
 
Rahoi-Gilchrest, Rita L., & Finsterwalder, J. (2007, July). Strategic communication in the arts: A case study in international, interdisciplinary, collaborative marketing communication. Manuscript under review at the International Journal of Strategic Communication.
 
Publications
 
Refereed/Peer-reviewed Journal Articles
 
Rahoi-Gilchrest, Rita L. (2007, Winter). The 42 Below story (a company that breaks the rules of corporate social responsibility—and just doesn’t care). International Journal of Communication, 1(2) [in press].
 
Rahoi-Gilchrest, Rita L. (2007). Designing, directing, and developing community engagement through social norming campaigns. Journal of the Communication, Speech & Theatre Association of North Dakota [in press].
 
Rahoi-Gilchrest, Rita L. (2007). TomKat!: Linking theory and practice in communication studies courses through the introduction and application of Social Exchange theory. Communication and Theatre Journal of Minnesota [in press].
 
Rahoi-Gilchrest, Rita L. (2006). Sex, soap operas, and storytelling: International social marketing research as a venue—and a cause for change—in organizational communication. Journal of the Speech and Theatre Association of Missouri, 36, 39-64.
 
Brown, Tim J., and Rahoi-Gilchrest, Rita L. (1999). Postmodern personas in combat: The NAACP and the Reverend Benjamin Chavis. The Howard Journal of Communications, 10(1), 29-45.
 
Aden, Roger C., Rahoi, Rita L., and Beck, Christina. (1995). “Dreams are born on places like this”: The process of interpretive community formation at the Field of Dreams Site. Communication Quarterly, 43(4): 368-380.
 
Svenkerud, Peer J., Rahoi, Rita L., and Singhal, Arvind. (1995). The role of ambiguity and archetypes in designing entertainment-education programs: Lessons learned from the Japanese Soap Opera Oshin. Gazette, 55(3), 147- 168.
 
Svenkerud, Peer J., and Rahoi, Rita L. (1994). Understanding the possibilities for cross-cultural negotiation: The road not taken. Speech Communication Annual, 9, 113-128.
 
Svenkerud, Peer J., and Rahoi, Rita L. (1994). Nurturing a culture for peace: Lessons for negotiation theory and practice, drawn from the success of the Norwegian Channel. Ohio Speech Journal, 32, 66-76.
 
Rahoi, Rita L. (1994). Connecting with the truth: The rhetorical responsibility for ethical concerns--an historical review. Journal of the Northwest Communication Association, 22, 91-103.
 
Book Chapters
 
Singhal, Arvind, Svenkerud, Peer J., and Rahoi-Gilchrest, Rita L. (1998). Cultural transcendence as an alternative to cultural imperialism: Role of pro-social entertainment television programs in developing countries. In S. Melkote, P. Shields, & B. Agrawal (Eds.), International satellite broadcasting in South Asia: Political, economic, and cultural implications (pp. 249-271). New York: University Press of America.
 
Rahoi, Rita L., and Lori Byers. (1996). Speech criticism within and outside the Classroom. In P. Nelson & J.C. Pearson (Eds.), Understanding and sharing (7th ed.). Madison, WI: Brown and Benchmark.
 
DeWine, Sue, and Rahoi, Rita L. (1994). The silent treatment: A case study. The consultant's craft: Improving organizational communication (pp. 367-372). New York: St. Martin's Press.
 
Published Conference Proceedings
 
Rahoi-Gilchrest, Rita L., & Finsterwalder, Jörg. (2007, January). Coordinating relationships, building community: A pilot programme in relationship marketing for non-profit organisations through strategic database development. Proceedings of the 11th World Congress for Total Quality Management [Electronic version], Wellington, NZ: Massey University.
 
Textbook/Other Publication Support
 
Rahoi-Gilchrest, Rita L. (2007). Content writer/designer, new course-specific website for small group communication studies. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon/Pearson Education.
 
Herold, Kelly, and Rahoi-Gilchrest, Rita L. (2004). Author, annotated Instructor’s Edition for Julia Wood’s Communication in our lives, 4th Edition. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.
 
Herold, Kelly, and Rahoi-Gilchrest, Rita L. (2002). Author, annotated Instructor’s Edition for Julia Wood’s Communication in our lives, 3rd Edition. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.
 
Professional Reviews
 
Rahoi-Gilchrest, Rita L. (2007). Invited complete textbook review of S. Duck & D. McMahan’s Basics of communication: A relational context approach for Sage Publications, Inc.
 
Rahoi-Gilchrest, Rita L. (2007). Reviewer, Applied Communication Division, National Communication Association annual convention, Chicago, IL.
 
Rahoi-Gilchrest, Rita L. (2006). Peer review of market research project conducted by The Field Connection, Limited. Report submitted to Ngai Tahu Tourism Ltd. and Tourism Milford Ltd., Milford, NZ.
 
Rahoi-Gilchrest, Rita L. (2006). Invited textbook review of J. Egan’s Relationship marketing for Pearson Education-UK/Britain.
 
Rahoi-Gilchrest, Rita L. (2006). Invited textbook review of S. Duck & D. McMahan’s Basics of communication: A relational context approach for Sage Publications, Inc.
 
Rahoi-Gilchrest, Rita L. (2006). Invited textbook review of L. O’Brien’s A speaker’s resource—Handbook for listener-centered public speaking for McGraw-Hill Higher Education Publishing.
 
Rahoi-Gilchrest, Rita L. (2005-2006). Invited complete textbook review of R. Fisk’s Services marketing: 1st Asia-Pacific edition for John Wiley & Sons-Australia.
 
Rahoi-Gilchrest, Rita L. (2005). Invited textbook review, third edition of R. West & L. Turner’s Introduction to communication theory: Analysis and application for McGraw-Hill Higher Education Publishing.
 
Rahoi-Gilchrest, Rita L. (2005). Reviewer, Student (Undergraduate and Graduate Research) Division, National Communication Association annual convention, Boston, MA.
 
Rahoi-Gilchrest, Rita L. (2004). Invited book proposal/complete textbook reviews of T. Borchers’s Perspectives of rhetoric for Wadsworth Publishing.
 
Non-fiction/Op-ed Publications
 
Rahoi-Gilchrest, Rita L. (2007, June). Thinkpiece: Dealing With Our Parents’ Stuff. Volume One magazine, Eau Claire, WI.
 
Rahoi-Gilchrest, Rita L. (2007, August). “Thinkpiece: The Joy(nt) of Knowledge.” Reprinted in The best of V1, Volume One Publications, Eau Claire, WI.
 
Rahoi-Gilchrest, Rita L. (2006, June). “Thinkpiece: The Joy(nt) of Knowledge.” Volume One magazine, Eau Claire, WI.