Frank Irizarry

Education

• MA, Northern Illinois University
• BA, Marist College

Research/Creative Interests

• Argument and Debate
• Public Relations
• Sports Communication
• Persuasion
• Communication apprehension
• Critical studies of popular culture

Teaching Philosophy

There is a wonderful Buddhist proverb that states, "Once the student is ready, the teacher will appear." I do what I can to not remain invisible.

Professional Activities and Affiliations

• Member of the Cross Examination Debate Association (Coach)
• Member of the National Communication Association
• Member of the National Prison Debate League (Coach)
• Suffolk University liaison to the Boston Debate League, a university community partner

Grants, Awards, Honors, & Recognitions

• 2023 National Prison Debate League Coach of the Year
• 2025 Dr. Neil Berch Award Recipient for Northeast Region Debate Coach of the Year
• 2017 Boston Debate League Community Partner of the Year
• 2006 Southeast Debate Coach of the Year

Employment History

• Suffolk University
• Stetson University
• University of Florida
• Pace University
• Syracuse University

Recent Scholarly or Creative Contributions

• Irizarry, F. (2024, November). Debate with Regard for the Greater Good: Building and Engaging with Our Communities: "How BDL Debaters Enrich and Enhance their Communities Outside of Debate”. Presented at National Communication Association, New Orleans, LA. National Communication Association Annual Convention
• Irizarry, Frank and Irizarry, Cynthia. “Medical Talk Shows and the Communication of Information on Health and Illness: Examining Health Topics and Medical Claims from the Rebranded Dr. Oz Show.” Paper presented at the 29th annual meeting of the International Association of Business Disciplines, New Orleans Convention Center, New Orleans, LA, April 6, 2017
• Irizarry, Frank. and Irizarry, Cynthia. "Outrage in The American Pastime: Major League Baseball and the Framing of a Steroid Scandal" Paper presented at the annual meeting of the International Communication Association, Sheraton Phoenix Downtown, Phoenix, AZ, May 24, 2012
• Irizarry, Frank P. (2005). “Debate Beyond the Ballot: Making the Debate Experience Count.” National Communication Association, Boston, MA, November 2005.
• Irizarry, Frank P. (2004). “When the Counterplan Has Nothing to Counter: Policy Options in an Increasingly Non-Policy World.” National Communication Association Convention, Chicago, IL, November 2004.
• Irizarry, Frank P. (2003). “Subverting the Performative Aesthetic: Examining the Communication of Subversive Argumentation.” National Communication Association Convention, Miami, FL, November 2003.

Selected Publications

• "Communication in the Classroom: A Test for a Correlation between Communication Apprehension and Trait Argumentativeness," The Florida Communication Journal, Spring, 2002