James VanOosting, Ph.D. :::
James VanOosting, Ph.D.
Graduated in 1969
Inducted in 2007
James VanOosting graduated from Lyons Township High School in 1969, received his bachelor’s
degree from Taylor University in 1972 in Communication Arts and continued his education at
Northwestern University, where he earned his master’s and doctoral degrees in Interpretation and
Performance Studies. He taught at both universities after graduation. He then spent 15 years at
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale as Professor of Speech Communication and, in 1989, was
named Chair of the Department of Speech Communication. While at Southern Illinois, he also served
on the Faculty Advisory Committee to the Illinois Board of Higher Education and on the Theatre
Advisory Panel to the Illinois Arts Council. VanOosting was Dean of the College of Arts and
Sciences at Seton Hall University and then accepted a professorship in media theory at Fordham
University. Currently, he is the Founding Director of the Institute for Narrative Studies at
Fordham University. VanOosting is the author of ten books, including Electing J.J., which was named
the “Best Book of 1990” by Parents Magazine. His ninth and tenth books, Walking Mary and And the
Flesh Became Word: Reflections Theological and Aesthetic, a novel and volume of personal essays
respectively, were published in 2005. VanOosting has made more than 30 paper presentations at
professional association conventions, published 15 articles in professional journals or book
chapters, served in national elective offices and has held editorial posts.