As the 2015 spring semester begins, so does the start of a new chapter for Antoine Hardy, the newest addition to the Communication Arts Department faculty.
“I am looking forward to being a part of a creative faculty dedicated to community engagement. As well as working with such a diverse student body and continuing my own communal culture research projects & workshops in the Greater Miami area,” said Hardy, who is currently a doctoral candidate in Communication Studies at the University of South Florida. His main research areas include Media Rhetoric, Mass Communications, and Race and Community. Hardy earned his master’s degree in Speech Communication at Wake Forest University and bachelors’ degrees in Communication Studies and African-American Studies at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro.
“I love teaching. I believe my enthusiasm and passion comes through in the classroom,” said Hardy, who taught courses ranging from speech and persuasion to argumentation and communication theory at Wiley College and Wake Forest University.
In addition, he has an impressive and extensive debate background. At Wiley College, he worked with some of the top debaters in the campus organization “Lyrical Therapy University.” The group led writing workshops and literacy programs for the surrounding community and used hip-hop to improve forensics skills as well as improve reading and critical thinking. At Wake Forest University, he served as judge and volunteer NDT tournaments and community forensic and debate tournaments.
“I’m really excited for this opportunity. I have witnessed Florida International University’s steady growth and reputation as a top school, not only in the region, but nationally,” said Hardy. This semester, Hardy is teaching Business and Professional Communication, Small Group Communication, and Persuasion for the Communication Arts Department.