News & Updates

Rudolph Busby, in memoria

Rudolph Busby, Professor of Communication Studies, died on May 9, 2019. He was teaching half-time at the time of his death. Rudolph received his BA (1974) and MA (1980) in Speech Communication from the University of Houston. His MA thesis set out his commitment to social justice:  "Public school teachers: verbal expression which may result in employment dismissal until declared constitutionally protected."  His PhD (1983), in Rhetoric and Communication Theory, was from the University of Texas, Austin, with a dissertation on "Myth and political rhetoric: a content analysis of keynote and presidential nomination acceptance addresses." 

Rudolph Busby joined the SF State faculty in 1983.  He was co-author of Basic Speech Communication:  Principles and Practices (1978, 1987).

One of Rudolph Busby’s areas of greatest service to the university was his work for the Sally Casanova Predoctoral Program. The CSU pre-doctoral program supports the academic and intellectual aspirations of students who have experienced economic and educational disadvantages. Dr. Busby was its Campus Coordinator from 1989 to 2006 and served on the Selection Committee and the Board from 1994 – 2006. In that capacity, he mentored undergraduate and graduate students who applied for competitive awards to attend professional association meetings and visit PhD programs.

Rudolph Busby served as Department Chair from 1999-2003. He was a member of the Academic Senate, served on the University Budget Committee, and many other college and campus committees, and his was the sonorous voice of SFSU commencements for several years.

Rudolph Busby taught Advanced Public Speaking, Communication Criticism, Communication and Rhetorical Theory, among other courses. He was a careful and caring advisor and a consummate editor/writing coach to many undergraduate and graduate students. He will be deeply missed by current and former students and his faculty and staff colleagues at San Francisco State University.