Thomas Jennings pace: Learning to cope with ambiguity

Abstract

This article attempts to identify what constitutes an effective college professor. The professor being discussed is Thomas Jennings Pace, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. Herein is an account of how Pace taught the tolerance for ambiguity as a major device for learning and for living. The concerns are for discriminating between the mundane and the significant as well as using dialogue for achieving communication as opposed to persuasion. Different philosophical perspectives provide a tool for analyzing audiences.

Key concepts:

• Thomas Jennings Pace
• speech communication education
• ambiguity
• philosophical perspective
• classroom excellence
• interpersonal communication
• teacher/scholar