Richard Johannesen, professor and chair of NIU’s communication studies department, was honored at the Speech Communications Association’s 78th annual conference in Chicago.

Johannesen was the center of a “Spotlight on Scholarship” program which included information about his contributions to the fields of communication ethics, rhetorics and the criticism of public discourse. The conference took place Oct. 29 through Nov. 1 at the Chicago Hilton Hotel.

The program also highlighted the 30 years of his career as a researcher and teacher.

“I have authored and edited five books,” Johannesen said. “Among these books are ‘Ethics in Human Communication’ and ‘Contemporary Theories of Rhetoric’.”

Johannesen was chosen for the award by three of his colleagues from Pennsylvania State University.

The judges summarized and analyzed the work of Johannesen as a researcher-scholar.

Johannesen said he did not know he was going to be the center of the program.

“I was flattered and gratified,” he said. “It was an experience that was deeply rewarding for my 30 years of effort.”

Johannesen earned his bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, from Augustana College. He went on to earn his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Kansas, Lawrence.

Prior to beginning teaching at NIU in 1971, Johannesen taught at Indiana University, Bloomington.