MICHAEL K. MIDDLETON portrait
  • Director Of Forensics, Communication
  • Assistant Professor, Communication
  • Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College Of Humanities-Dean
  • Associate Professor, Communication

Current Courses

Fall 2024

  • COMM 6090-001
    Teaching College Comm
  • HUM 150-001
    Great Books
  • HUM 150-002
    Great Books
  • HUM 1500-001
    Great Books
  • HUM 1500-002
    Great Books
  • HUM 1500-004
    Great Books
  • HUM 1500-005
    Great Books
  • HUM 1500-006
    Great Books
  • HUM 1500-007
    Great Books
  • HUM 1500-008
    Great Books
  • HUM 1500-009
    Great Books
  • HUM 1500-011
    Great Books
  • HUM 1500-012
    Great Books
  • HUM 1500-014
    Great Books

Summer 2024

Spring 2024

Professional Organizations

  • National Communication Association. 11/2020 - 11/2021. Position : Member.
  • National Forensics Association. 04/2020 - 04/2021. Position : Member.
  • International Forensics Association. 03/2020 - 03/2021. Position : Secretary.
  • Western States Communication Association. 02/2020 - 02/2021. Position : Member.
  • National Communication Association. 11/2019 - 11/2020. Position : Member.
  • International Forensics Association. 02/2019 - 02/2020. Position : Member/Secretary.
  • Western States Communication Association. 02/2019 - 02/2020. Position : Member.
  • National Communication Association. 11/2018 - 11/2019. Position : Member.
  • National Parliamentary Debate Association. 03/2018 - 03/2019. Position : Member/Tournament Director.
  • International Forensics Association. 02/2018 - 03/2019. Position : Member/Secretary.
  • Western States Communication Association. 02/2018 - 02/2019. Position : Member.
  • 2017 National Communication Association. 11/2017 - 11/2018. Position : Member.
  • 2017 American Forensics Association. 05/2017 - 05/2018. Position : Member.
  • National Parliamentary Debate Association. 03/2017 - 03/2018. Position : Member/Tournament Director.
  • Western Forensics & Argumentation Association. 02/2017 - 02/2018. Position : Member.
  • Western States Communication Association. 02/2017 - 02/2018. Position : Member.
  • National Communication Association. 11/2016 - 11/2017. Position : Member.
  • American Forensics Association. 05/2016 - 05/2017. Position : Member.
  • National Parliamentary Debate Association. 03/2016 - 03/2017. Position : President.
  • Western States Communication Association. 02/2016 - 02/2017. Position : Member.
  • Western Forensics & Argumentation Association. 02/2016 - 02/2017. Position : Chair/President.

Courses I Teach

  • COMM 1270 - Analysis of Argument
    Introduction to Argumentation Studies
  • COMM 3050 - Theoretical Perspectives on Communication
    Upper Division Communication Theory Survey.
  • COMM 3270/4270 - Forensics Practicum
    A course for members of the John R. Park Debate Society
  • COMM 7390 - Rhetorical Field Methods
    Rhetorical Methods

Pedagogical Publications

  • Middleton, Michael K. Accentuating the Positive in Forensics Research: Navigating Assimilation, Power, and Identity in Debate Spaces (Respondent). Competitive Panel at the 2015 Western States Communication Association Annual Conference (Spokane, WA; February 2015). Presentation accepted, 02/2015.
  • Middleton, Michael K., et. al. Forensics Praxis: Points of Transfer between Practice, Pedagogy, and Theory. Conference Presentation at the Western States Communication Association Annual Conference (Anaheim, CA: February 2014). Respondent. Presentation other, 02/2014.
  • Middleton, Michael K., et. al. Transferring Mediation Certification Programs int Departments of Communication Studies: Program Development, Assessment, Improvement, and Impact. Conference Presentation at the Western States Communication Association Annual Conference (Anaheim, CA: February 2014). Respondent. Presentation other, 02/2014.
  • “Forensics Pedagogy & Practice: A Roundtable Discussion.” Panel Presentation at the Western States Communication Association Annual Conference (Reno, NV; February 2013). Presentation accepted, 02/17/2013.

Student Projects

  • Project Muse Intern, including supervising student intern producing pedagogical, public debate, and other outreach materials for the John R. Park Debate Society. Duncan Stewart. 01/2015 - 05/2015
  • Undergraduate Research Opportunity (UROP). Duncan Stewart. 01/2015 - 05/2015
  • Project Muse Intern, including supervising student intern producing pedagogical, public debate, and other outreach materials for the John R. Park Debate Society. Duncan Stewart. 08/2014 - 12/2014
  • Undergraduate Research Opportunity. Duncan Stewart. 06/2014 - 12/31/2014

Teaching Projects

  • Beehive Forensics Institute. Project Lead: Michael Middleton. Self-Funded 07/01/2015 - 07/31/2015.
  • University of Utah High School Debate Clinic. Project Lead: Michael K. Middleton. 02/2015 - 02/2015.
  • Beehive Forensics Institute. Project Lead: Michael K. Middleton. 07/2014 - 07/2014.

Current Students

  • Kourtney Maison, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Project Type: Dissertation. Role: Member.

Former Students

  • Oscar Mejia, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Project Type: Dissertation. Role: Member.
  • Duncan Stewart, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Project Type: Dissertation. Role: Member.
  • Jordan, Jason, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Project Type: Dissertation. Role: Chair.
  • Loretta Rowley, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Project Type: Dissertation. Role: Member.
  • Jordan, Jason, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Project Type: Dissertation. Role: Chair.
  • Benjamin Mann, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Project Type: Dissertation. Role: Member.
  • Loretta Rowley, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Project Type: Dissertation. Role: Member.
  • Benjamin Mann, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Project Type: Dissertation. Role: Member.
  • Robert Layne, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Project Type: Dissertation. Role: Member.
  • Robert Layne, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Project Type: Dissertation. Role: Member.
  • Williams, Amy, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Project Type: Dissertation. Role: Member.
  • Williams, Amy, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Project Type: Dissertation. Role: Member.
  • Paliewicz, Nicholas, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Project Type: Dissertation. Role: Member.
  • Mathis, Sara., Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Project Type: Dissertation. Role: Member.
  • Paliewicz, Nicholas, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Project Type: Dissertation. Role: Member.
  • Mathis, Sara., Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Project Type: Dissertation. Role: Member.
  • Moreno, Robyn, Master of Arts (M.A.), Project Type: Project. Role: Member.
  • Moreno, Robyn, Master of Arts (M.A.), Project Type: Project. Role: Member.
  • Dover, Jacki, Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.), Project Type: Thesis. Role: Member.
  • Dover, Jacki, Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.), Project Type: Thesis. Role: Member.