Dr. Beth Ribarsky (Ph.D. University of Nebraska-Lincoln) teaches courses in interpersonal communication and public speaking. Dr. Ribarsky's research focuses on the social construction of individual and relational identities. Specifically, much of her research is devoted to understanding the communication surrounding romantic relationships as well as sexual communication. To share her expertise, Dr. Ribarsky developed a course at UIS specifically focused on romantic relationships called Dating and Relating.
Her research has been published in numerous academic journals, and she has written/co-edited two books: Activities for Teaching Gender and Sexuality in the University Classroom and Activate Your Superpower: Creating Compelling Communication. She also loves teaching the COM 112 – Oral Communication public speaking course, as well as teaching within the Honors Program. She is a recipient of one of the 2021-2023 COLRS Fellowships, and an Excellence in Teaching and Learning Fellow.
Dr. Ribarsky is a dynamic contributor to her university through activities such as being the current second longest standing member of the Institutional Review Board and assessment advocate within her department. She was awarded the Berman Sabbatical Award in 2023 to advanced the assessment being done within the School of Communication and Media.
She is an active member of the Central States Communication Association – having served 7 years in leadership positions, including as chair/program planner of both the Communication Education Division as well as the Women’s Caucus, and secretary of the Undergraduate Education and Administration Section. Additionally, she serves on several review boards for regional, national, and international journals. And, Dr. Ribarsky integrates her communication knowledge into the Springfield community as an advocate for animal welfare, serving as a fundraiser chair, social media director, and communication consultant for Illinois Humane. For her work with Illinois Humane, she was award the Star Staff Award from the Good as Gold Springfield Volunteer Awards in 2021.