EDUCATION

Ph.D., Communication (Rhetoric), University of Pittsburgh.
Secondary emphasis: media and cultural studies.

M.A., Communication Studies (Rhetoric), Baylor University. 

B.A., cum laude, Political Science (Foreign Policy and International Security Studies), University of Georgia.

ACADEMIC  APPOINTMENTS

Assistant Professor, Department of Speech Communication and the Insitute for Women’s Studies (joint appointment), 2007-current

Assistant Professor, Department of Communication, Northern Illinois University, 2003-2007.

Faculty Associate, Women's Studies Program, Northern Illinois University, 2004-2007.

Visiting Instructor, Department of History, Carlow College, Spring 2003. 

TEACHING

UGA: Rhetorical Theory, Introduction to Women’s Studies (honors), Biology and the Politics of Reproduction, Feminist Theories, Feminist Theory and Criticism

NIU:  Rhetoric of Science (undergraduate and graduate seminars), Theory and  Uses of Argument (graduate seminar); Freedom of Speech and Communication Ethics, Argumentation and Debate

SCHOLARLY PUBLICATIONS

Happe, Kelly E.  2006. “The Rhetoric of Race in Breast Cancer Research.”  Patterns of Prejudice. 40(4-5): 461-481. Special issue on race and medicine.  Sander L.  Gilman, guest editor. (peer reviewed). Reprinted in Race in Contemporary Medicine, Sander L. Gilman, ed.  Routledge, 2007.

Happe, Kelly E. 2006. “Heredity, Gender, and the Discourse of Ovarian Cancer.”  New Genetics and Society. 25(2): 171-196. Special issue: Feminism Confronts the Genome.  Barbara Katz Rothman, guest editor. (peer reviewed)

Mitchell, Gordon R., and Kelly Happe. 2001. “Informed Consent After the Human Genome Project.” Rhetoric and Public Affairs 4(3): 375-406. (peer reviewed)

Mitchell, Gordon R., and Kelly Happe.  2001. “Defining the Subject of Consent in DNA Research.” Journal of Medical Humanities  22(1): 41-53.

Happe, Kelly. 2000. “Race Betterment and Class Consciousness at the Turn of the Century, or, Why It’s OK to Marry Your Cousin.”  In Carol A. Stabile, ed., Turning the Century: Essays in Cultural Studies.  Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press.

Happe, Kelly E. 1999. “The Political Economy of the Human Genome Project: Challenges for Feminists.” Michigan Feminist Studies (Fall)

GRANTS (AWARDED)

Happe, Kelly E.  “Heredity Embodied: Gender, Race, and Place in the Rhetoric of Genomics.” UGARF Junior Faculty Research Grant in the Humanities and Arts.  University of Georgia, 2007 ($3700)

Happe, Kelly E. “The Rhetoric of Race in Genetics Research.” Graduate School Fund for Research and Artistry.  Northern Illinois University, 2005 ($5100)

Happe, Kelly E. “Genomics and the Politics of Race: the Case of Breast Cancer Research.” Graduate School Fund for Research and Artistry.  Northern Illinois University, 2004 ($800)

AWARDS

Best Dissertation of the Year, Women’s Studies Program, University of Pittsburgh, 2003 ($500)

Andrew Mellon  Pre-doctoral Fellowship, University of Pittsburgh, 1999-2000
(for full-time dissertation research)

Cultural Studies Fellowship, Cultural Studies Program, University of Pittsburgh, 1998-1999
(for full-time dissertation research)

Selected for American Debate Tour of Israel, Committee for International Discussion and Debate, National Communication Association, Northwestern University, November 1995.

CONFERENCE   PRESENTATIONS  2003-2008

(17 papers presented 1996-2002)

The following are single-authored paper presentations unless otherwise noted:

“Genetics and Embodiment: A Feminist Critique.”  Southeastern Women’s Studies Association Annual Conference, Charlotte, NC (April 2008).

“Body’s Burden: Biomonitoring and the New Epistemology of Risk.”  Conference on Communication and the Environment, Chicago, IL (June 2007).

“The Political Unconscious of Science: Theorizing Heredity in the Age of Genomics.” National Women’s Association National Conference, St. Charles, IL (June 2007).  

“Motherhood and Race in the Discourse of Ovarian Cancer.”  National Communication Association, San Antonio (November 2006).

“The Rhetoric of Race in Genetics Research.”  National Communication Association, Boston (November 2005).

“Ovarian Cancer Genetics and New Discourses of Disease: A Case Study in Rhetoric, Science, and Gender.”  National Communication Association, Boston (November 2005).

“Genetics Research and the Rhetoric of ‘Repair’: Implications for Public Health.”  National Communication Association/American Forensics Association Conference on Argumentation, Alta, Utah (August 2005).

“Manufacturing Dissent in Genetics Discourse: the case of the BRCA genes.”  National Communication Association, Chicago (November 2004).

“Genomics, Heredity, and Gender: BRCA research and the geneticization of women's cancers.” Society for the Study of Social Problems, San Francisco (August 2004).

INVITED  LECTURES

Public Lecture.  “The Politics of Women’s Health.” Institute for Women’s Studies Friday Speaker Series, 2008.

Guest lecturer. “Bioethics.” Biomedical and Health Sciences Institute, University of Georgia, 2008 (two appearances, for undergraduate microbiology class, and graduate public health class).

Guest speaker. “The Rhetoric of Race and the Politics of Disease.”  Rhetoric Colloquium, Department of Communication Arts, University of Wisconsin, Madison (March 2006).

DEPARTMENTAL SERVICE

Member, Organizing Committee.  Women and Girls in Georgia Conference, Institute for Women’s Studies, University of Georgia, 2008-present.

Member, Executive Advisory Committee, Institute for Women’s Studies, University of Georgia, 2007-present.

Member, MA Committee, Institute for Women’s Studies, University of Georgia, 2007-present.

Participant, Workshop on Academic Job Market for PhD Students, Department of Speech Communication, University of Georgia, 2007

Member.  IRB Committee, Department of Communication, Northern Illinois University, 2006-2007.

Member.  Director of Forensics/Rhetorical Studies Search Committee, Northern Illinois University, 2005-2006.

Member.  Technology Advisory Committee, Department of Communication, Northern Illinois University, 2005.

GRADUATE COMMITTEES

Current committees: Kristen Macauliff (PhD); Nicole Hurt (PhD); Marita Gronvoll (PhD); Katie Rush (MA)

Past committees (NIU):

Chaired: Amy Flanagan (2007), Ioana Cioana (2006)
Reader: Carrie Casper (2007), Kristopher Cannon (2007), Daniel Kramarz (2006), Gary Dobson (2005)

SERVICE TO THE UNIVERSITY

Faculty Associate. Women's Studies Program, Northern Illinois University, 2004-2007.

Faculty advisor.  Women’s Alliance (student organization), Northern Illinois University, 2005-2007.

SERVICE TO THE PROFESSION

Reviewer.  National Women’s Association Annual Conference (2006-2007).

Secretary. American Forensics Association (elected office), 2006-2008.

Member.  Committee on Professional Development and Support, American Forensic Association (2004-2007).

SELECTED PUBLIC SERVICE WRITING/LECTURES/GUEST APPEARANCES

Happe, Kelly E. (January/February 2006)  “Logics of Heredity.”  GeneWatch.  Magazine of the Council for Responsible Genetics, Cambridge.

Guest speaker.  “Night Talk” (call-in news talk show on PCNC, a Pittsburgh cable news channel). Two appearances (2003): interview on behalf of Pittsburgh Professors for Peace and Justice regarding the Iraq war and participant on Friday night news roundtable on topics including the Iraq war, Texas v. Lawrence decision, and other current events.

Happe, Kelly, and Clark Henderson.  2002. “America’s Disdain for Global Justice: Rejecting the International Criminal Court is the Bush Administration’s Latest Snub.”  Op-ed, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 15, A13.

Guest speaker.  “The Case Against War with Iraq.”  “Beyond 9/11: Alternative Perspectives.”  University of Pittsburgh (September 2002).

Guest speaker.  “The International Criminal Court.”  “The Complete Guide to the War on Terrorism: A Student Teach-In.”  University of Pittsburgh (January 2002).

Mitchell, Gordon, and Kelly Happe.  1997. “Civilian Police Review Board: Yes or No?”  Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 9, E1.

Happe, Kelly. 1997.  “Should Pittsburgh Have a Civilian Police Review Board?” (summary of public debate).  Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 23, B4.

Guest speaker.  Forum on Police Brutality. William Pitt Union, University of Pittsburgh (October 1997).

Coordinator.  Public debate on the Citizen Review Board, Pittsburgh, PA (March 1997).  Secured participation of elected officials, activists, and president of the Pittsburgh Fraternal Order of Police.

Speaker.  In debate with British Debate Team, Clarion University. Sponsored by the Committee for International Discussion and Debate, National Communication Association. (October 1995). 

Speaker.  In debate with team from former Soviet Union, University of Georgia.  Sponsored by the Committee for International Discussion and Debate, National Communication Association. (October 1990).