Rich Rice

Rich Rice is a Professor in the Department of English specializing in Technical Communication & Rhetoric at Texas Tech University. He serves as Director of the Center for Global Communication and Director/Judge of UIL Ready Writing. His scholarly work spans composition and rhetoric, new media, and intercultural communication with a strong focus on practical applications in educational settings.

• Ph.D. from Ball State University (2002)

Professor Rice's research focuses on contemporary composition and rhetoric, new media, problem-based learning, portfolio assessment, intercultural communication, online writing instruction, and service-learning. His work bridges theoretical frameworks with practical applications, particularly in how digital technologies transform writing instruction and global communication. He has developed innovative approaches to portfolio assessment and has been at the forefront of integrating intercultural communication competence into writing pedagogy. His recent work has increasingly focused on the ethical integration of artificial intelligence in writing education, examining how emerging technologies reshape literacy instruction across global contexts.

Rice's scholarly output demonstrates a consistent trajectory from traditional composition studies toward increasingly global and technology-mediated approaches to writing instruction. His early work focused on portfolio assessment and writing pedagogy, which evolved into exploring online writing environments and intercultural communication. More recently, his research has addressed the challenges and opportunities presented by generative AI in writing education, while maintaining his commitment to intercultural communication and global perspectives. His publications reveal a scholar deeply engaged with both theoretical developments in rhetoric and composition and practical applications in the classroom.

• TTU Libraries' 2024 Advocacy for Open Access Award
• Schovanec Teaching Development Scholarship (2024)
• Empowering educators: Strategies for multicultural communication and modern teaching (2024)
• TTU Faculty International Scholarship Global Vision Award (runner-up, 2018)
• U.S. Fulbright Scholar South and Central Asia Regional Travel Program (2014)
• U.S. Fulbright-Nehru Scholars Award (2014)

Professor Rice has secured significant grant funding for international educational initiatives, including projects in India and China. He serves as Director of the Center for Global Communication and sponsors international scholars. His work extends beyond traditional academic boundaries through community engagement as a Board Member of Community Assistance Volunteers and through directing the UIL Ready Writing program. His recent grants focus on multicultural communication, global film series, and developing cultural empathy in university settings.

Rice has developed innovative approaches to global communication through projects like the "Smart" Connect-Exchange Study Abroad Model and through his leadership of the Center for Global Communication. His work with new media exhibits, including the Synoptics Wordscape Exhibition at the TTU Museum, demonstrates his commitment to exploring the intersection of digital technology and communication in creative ways.