(Updated 10 September 2019)
MICHAEL KIM ROOS
PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF ENGLISH
Department of English & Communication
University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College
EDUCATION
1976 M.A. in English, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio
1974 B.A. in English Education, University of Evansville, Evansville, Indiana
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Professor Emeritus of English, University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College, 2015-present
Professor of English, University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College (Formerly Raymond Walters College), 1995-2015
Associate Professor of English, University of Cincinnati—Raymond Walters College, 1986-1995
Assistant Professor of English, University of Cincinnati—Raymond Walters College, 1981-1986
Instructor of English, University of Cincinnati Raymond Walters College, 1976-1981
COURSES DESIGNED AND TAUGHT
English 2001, 2002, 201, 202, 203 (Topics in Literature): (“Bob Dylan,” “Bob Dylan and the Beatles,” “Literature of Evolution,” “Cultural Clash In the Aftermath of September 11,” “Eudora Welty, Flannery O’Connor, and Lori Moore,” “Ernest Hemingway in the 1920s,” “Hemingway and Fitzgerald in the 1920s,” “James Joyce & D.H. Lawrence,” “James Joyce,” “Existentialism in Kafka and Camus,” “Ibsen, Strindberg, & Chekhov”)
Creative Writing I, II: Fiction, Drama, Poetry
English 1071, 1072, 171, 172, 173 (Student News Workshop)
English 1001, 101: English Composition I
English 102: English Composition II
English 2089, 289: Intermediate English Composition
English Study Abroad: “Shakespeare: Selected Tragedies and Comedies” (1997); “James Joyce’s Ulysses” (2004), “Creative Writing: The Evolutionary Self” (2008), “Creative Writing: The Beatles and the Revolution of the 1960s” (2011, 2015)
PUBLICATIONS
BOOKS
- Reading Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms. Co-authored with Robert W. Lewis. Kent State University Press, Spring 2019.
- One Small Town, One Crazy Coach: The Ireland Spuds and the 1963 Indiana High School Basketball Season, Indiana University Press, 2013.
BOOK CHAPTERS
- “A Darwinian Reading of Hemingway’s ‘Big Two-Hearted River’: The Re-Enchantment of Nick Adams?’” in Teaching Hemingway and the Natural World. Ed. Kevin Maier. Kent State University Press, 2018, pp. 57-71.
- “‘What If You Are Not Built That Way?’ H.G. Wells and The Conflict of Science and Faith in Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms.” In Hemingway and Italy: 21st Century Perspectives. Ed. Mark Cirino and Mark P. Ott. University Press of Florida, 2017, pp. 108-126.
- “Is Your Love in Vain: Dialectical Dilemmas in Bob Dylan’s Recent Love Songs.” Co-authored with Don O’Meara. In The Dylan Companion. Ed. Elizabeth Thomson and David Gutman, MacMillan, 1990, 2000, pp. 33-55.
REFEREED ARTICLES
- “‘I Fixed the Dates’ and Other Details: The Logic and Illogic of Chronology and Topography in Frederic Henry’s Caporetto Retreat.” The Hemingway Review (Forthcoming, Spring 2020).
- “The Doctor and the Doctor’s Son: Clarence Hemingway and the Conflict of Science and Faith.” Midwestern Miscellany, 47, Spring/Fall 2019, pp. 29-48.
- “Addio alle armi: le origini di Hemingway per l’Abruzzo, il sacerdote e Ettore Moretti.” Co-authored with Vincenzo Di Nardo. Ácoma, no. 15 New Series, Autumn-Winter 2018, pp. 134-141. (The article is incorrectly titled in the journal.)
- “Navigating Uncharted Waters: Study Abroad Pre-Departure Activities and the Two-Year College Student.” Co-authored with Angie L. Woods, Susan M. Sipple, and Mark R. M. Otten. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 10 November 2016. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10668926.2016.1242439.
- “Agassiz or Darwin: Faith and Science in Hemingway’s High School Zoology Class,” The Hemingway Review, 32:2, Spring 2013, pp. 7-27.
- “Is Your Love in Vain: Dialectical Dilemmas in Bob Dylan’s Recent Love Songs.” Co-authored with Don O’Meara. Popular Music, 7.1, January 1988, pp. 35-50.
- “The Walrus and the Deacon: John Lennon’s Debt to Lewis Carroll.” Journal of Popular Culture, 18.1, Fall 1984, pp. 19-29.
- “Fixin’ to Die: The Death Theme in the Music of Bob Dylan.” Popular Music and Society, 8.3-4, Summer 1983, pp. 103-116.
- “Syntactic Maturity and Grading: A Correlational Study.” Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC), July 1981. http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED207071.pdf.
BOOK REVIEWS
- “Book Review of The Letters of Ernest Hemingway: Vol. 5.” The Hemingway Review (Forthcoming, 2020).
- “Book Review of The Critics and Hemingway, 1924-2014: Shaping an American Literary Icon,” by Laurence W. Mazzeno, The Hemingway Review 36.1 (Fall 2016): 111-113.
- “Book Review of Darwin the Writer, by George Levine,” for Reports for the National Center for Science Education, 33.1, (Jan.-Feb. 2013): 7.1-7.3.
OTHER CREATIVE WORKS
- “Dark and Scarlet Moon,” original song, November 2018.
- “Caporetto,” original song performed at 18th Hemingway International Conference, Paris, France, July 25, 2018.
- “Unfinished Church,” original song, included on music CD Songs & Poems for Hemingway & Paris, produced by H.R. Stoneback (2018). Performed live at 17th Hemingway International Conference, Oak Park, IL, July 20, 2016 and at 18th Hemingway International Conference, Paris, France, July 23, 2018.
- “You’re Gonna Make Us Lonesome When You Go,” Bob Dylan parody, song lyrics in Blue Ash Review, 2012
- Begin 2, self-published record album, collection of original songs—words, music, arrangements, and production (April 2011)
- “Ballad of Gregory Gregory,” song lyrics, Blue Ash Review, 2009
- “Blacksburg,” song lyrics, Blue Ash Review, 2008
- “City of Flesh,” song lyrics, Blue Ash Review, 2006
- “Tao of Love,” poem, Blue Ash Review, 2004
- “Pain Killer,” song music and lyrics, Big Wedge Music, Nashville, TN., 1990
- “Wherever You Are,” song music and lyrics, Big Wedge Music, Nashville, TN., 1990
- “Improvise,” song music and lyrics, Big Wedge Music, Nashville, TN., 1990
- “Believe in Me,” song music and lyrics, Big Wedge Music, Nashville, TN., 1990
- Songs From the Flood Wall, self-published record album, collection of original songs—words, music, arrangements, and production (September 1990)
- “Stay Alive,” music video, collaboration with H. Michael Sanders, 1986
- Kangaroo, self-published record album, collection of original songs—words, music, arrangements, and production (May 1986)
GALLERY EXHIBITION
- Gaps and Overlaps: Collaborative Works by UCBA Faculty, UCBA Gallery, March 25-May 1, 2015. My contributions included two music videos for my original song recordings in collaboration with video artist Matt Bennet: “Ship of Fools” and “Rich Man”
WORKS IN PROGRESS
- Diamonds and Rust: The Relationship of Bob Dylan and Joan Baez (with Mark Cirino).
- Just Like Bob and the Beatles: The Story of a Creative and Competitive Friendship of Bob Dylan and Each of the Beatles. Early planning.
- Ship of Fools, record album, a new collection of original songs, recordings in progress
- Fear and Desire, novel, draft completed, revision in progress.
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
- “Catherine Barkley: More Than a Sex Kitten,” Society for the Study of Midwestern Literature Annual Conference, East Lansing, MI, 18 May 2019.
- “A Farewell to Arms: Hemingway’s Sources for the Abruzzi, the Priest, and Ettore Moretti.” With Vincenzo Di Nardo. Hemingway Society International Conference, Paris, France, July 25, 2018.
- “Like a Red Silk Handkerchief: Hemingway’s Accounts of Out-of-Body Experiences,” Hemingway Society International Conference, Paris, France, July 25, 2018.
- “Flaubert’s Influence on A Farewell to Arms,” Hemingway Society International Conference, Paris, France, July 25, 2018.
- “Like a Red Silk Handkerchief: Hemingway’s Accounts of Out-of-Body Experiences,” Society for the Study of Midwestern Literature Annual Conference, East Lansing, MI, June 1, 2018.
- “The Education of Doctor Henry Adams: Balancing Faith and Science in Hemingway’s ‘The Doctor and the Doctor’s Wife.’” Society for the Study of Midwestern Literature Annual Conference, East Lansing, MI, June 3, 2017.
- “Report on Manuscript for Reading Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms.” Presented at Hemingway Society International Conference, Oak Park, Illinois, July 22, 2016.
- “The Doctor and the Doctor’s Son: Clarence Hemingway and the Conflict of Science and Faith.” Presented at Hemingway Society International Conference, Oak Park, Illinois, July 21, 2016.
- “UCBA Creative Arts Faculty Learning Community” (with Rhonda Petit, Jody Ballah, Matt Bennett, Ted Ferdinand, David Freeman, David Hartz, Rita Kuma, Robert Murdock, Kevin Oberlin, Mike Sanders, Claudia Skutar, and Sue Sipple), Kentucky Philological Association, Northern Kentucky University, March 6, 2015.
- “’What If You Are Not Built That Way: H.G. Wells and The Conflict of Science and Faith in Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms,” Hemingway Society International Conference, Venice, Italy, June 26, 2014.
- “No Innocents Abroad: Pre-Trip Activities & Study Preparedness,” co-presented with Sue Sipple, Angie Woods, Eric Anderson, and Mark Otten, at Annual Conference of Midwest Institute of International and Intercultural Studies, Lorraine Community College, Ohio, April 6, 2013.
- “A Darwinian Reading of Hemingway’s ‘Big Two-Hearted River’: The Re-Enchantment of Nick Adams?’” Presented at Hemingway Society International Conference, Petoskey, Michigan, June 20, 2012.
- “Falsely Accused: Hemingway’s Esteem for W.H. Hudson.” Presented at Annual Conference of the American Literature Association, San Francisco, CA, May 24, 2012.
- “Just Like Bob and the Beatles: The Story of a Competitive and Creative Friendship Between Bob Dylan and the Beatles.” Presented at Annual Conference of the Popular Culture Association, Boston, MA, April 13, 2012.
- “Study Abroad Field Trips and Academic Success.” Co-presented with Mark Otten, at Conference of Midwest Institute of International and Intercultural Education, St. Louis, MO, March 30, 2012.
- “Journey to Success: Pre-trip Activities and Study Abroad.” Co-presented with Sue Sipple, Angie Woods, Jody Ballah, and Mark Otten, at NAFSA: Association of International Educators, Region VI Conference, Louisville, KY, November 8, 2011.
- “Burning Gardens: W. H. Hudson in Hemingway’s The Garden of Eden.” Presented at AURCO Annual Conference, Wright State University—Lake Campus, April 9, 2011
- “The Shadows of Agassiz, Darwin, and Roosevelt in Hemingway’s Formative Years.” Presented at the Hemingway Society International Conference, Lausanne, Switzerland, June 27, 2010
- Raymond Walters College (UCBA) Self-Study Report to the Higher Learning Commission. Co-presented with Philip Luther, at Higher Learning Commission Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, April 11, 2010. (Report co-authored with Philip Luther and Marlene Miner)
- “Hemingway, Darwin, and the Problem of God.” Presented at Darwin Symposium, University of Cincinnati, October 31, 2009
- “Big Two-Hearted Writer: Hemingway, Darwin, and the Problem of God.” Presented at the Oxford Round Table International Conference, Oxford University, England, July 28, 2009
- “In Memory of Those Who’ve Checked Out.” Short Fiction excerpt from Fear, Desire, and Delusion. Presented at Midwest Modern Language Association Annual Meeting, Cleveland, OH, Nov. 2, 2001
- “Death and Desolation: Bob Dylan’s Apocalyptic Closing Songs, Part Two,” presented at Popular Culture Association Annual Meeting, New Orleans, April 21, 2000
- “Arrows on the Doorpost: Bob Dylan’s Parting Shots, Part One,” presented at Popular Culture Association Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, April 2, 1999
- “Love Sick: Bob Dylan’s Time Out of Mind,” presented at Popular Culture Association Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, April 1998
- “Backstreets and Open Roads: The Songs of Bruce Springsteen, 1972-85,” presented at Popular Culture Association Annual Meeting, St. Louis, MO, April 1989
- “Doing It In the Road: Dialectical Dilemmas in the Music of John Lennon,” (with Don O’Meara) presented at Popular Culture Association Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, March 1988
- “Is Your Love in Vain: Dialectical Dilemmas in Bob Dylan’s Recent Love Songs,” (with Don O’Meara) presented at Popular Culture Association Annual Meeting, Montreal, Canada, March 1987
- “George Orwell and 1984,” presented at RWC symposium 1984: Looking Forward, Feb. 15, 1984
- “The Walrus and the Deacon: John Lennon’s Debt to Lewis Carroll,” presented at Popular Culture Association Annual Meeting, Louisville, KY, April 1982
- “Syntactic Maturity and Grading: A Correlational Study,” presented at the Wyoming Conference on Freshman and Sophomore English, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, July 7, 1981.
INVITED PERFORMANCES AND READINGS (SELECTED)
- Music performance, two original songs: “Stay Alive” and “Richard, Samuel, and James,” Exhibition Opening, UC Blue Ash College, 50th Anniversary of Blue Ash Review literary magazine, 6 September 2019.
- Music performance, original song: “Stay Alive,” UCBA video, 50th Anniversary of Blue Ash Review literary magazine, August 2019.
- Music performance, original songs: “Caporetto” and “Unfinished Church,” Hemingway Society International Conference, Paris, France, July 23-25, 2018.
- Music performance, original song, “Unfinished Church,” Hemingway Society International Conference, Oak Park, Illinois, July 20, 2016.
- Music performance, original song: “Rich Man,” UCBA Faculty Convocation, August 19, 2014.
- Music performance, original songs: “Rich Man” and “Ship of Fools,” UCBA Poetry Café, April 7, 2014.
- Music Performance, original song, “Grand Design,” UCBA Poetry Café, April 8, 2013.
- Music Performance, original songs, “Plato’s Slave Boy” and “The Edge of the Abyss,” at UC Blue Ash Humanities Luncheon, October 26, 2011.
- Reading, excerpt from One Small Town, One Crazy Coach, Ireland, Indiana, Historical Society, March 17, 2013.
- Reading, excerpt from One Small Town, One Crazy Coach, Ireland, Indiana, Historical Society, July 26, 2008.
- Reading, excerpt from One Small Town, One Crazy Coach, at UCBA, May 13, 2008.
ACADEMIC SERVICE
UNIVERSITY SERVICE, UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI (SELECTED)
- Decanal Review Committee for review of UCBA Dean Cady Short-Thompson, Spring 2014
- UC International Regional Campus Subcommittee, 2008-2011
- Study Abroad Self Study Committee, 2008-09
COLLEGE SERVICE, UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI BLUE ASH COLLEGE (SELECTED)
- Study Abroad and Exchange Committee, 1992-present; Chair, 2006-2008, 2014-15
- Coordinator, Midwest Institute for International and Intercultural Education, 2012-2015
- Coordinator, UCBA Summer British Study Program, 1996-2015
- Folk Music performance, UCBA Family Picnic, Sept. 20, 2011, Sept. 6, 2012, Sept. 5, 2013, Sept 4, 2014
- Folk Music performances, Sept. 20, 2010 (Ilmenau Delegation Reception; June 3, Aug. 15, Aug. 29 2011 (UCBA Market), UCBA Retirement Celebrations, April 2011, April 2012, April 24, 2013, March 27, 2014
- College Food Service Advisory Group 2011
- Faculty Mentor for Professor Todd Callais, 2012-2013
- Faculty Mentor for Professor Kevin Oberman, 2010-11
- Folk music performances, College Worldfest, annually first Wed. in May, 1993-99, 2001-2011
- Music recording, acting, and interview for making of College Fall Orientation Video, September 2010
- Writing Committee, Raymond Walters College Self Study Report for Higher Learning Commission reaccreditation visit, May, 2009
- Faculty Mentor for Professor Angie Woods, 2008-09
- Co-Chair, College Capital Building Task Force, (decanal appointment), 1992-99
- Computer Advisory Committee, 1995-98 (Secretary, 1995-96; Chair, 1996-97
- College Functional Mission Task Force (including leader of editorial subcommittee), 1993-94
- Strategic Planning Committee (ex-officio, liaison from Capital Building Task Force), 1994-96
- Long Range Planning Committee (elected), 1978-84, 1991-94 (Chair, 1979-84, 1993-94)
- Faculty Executive Committee, 1982-85 (Chair, 1984-85)
DEPARTMENTAL SERVICE, UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI BLUE ASH COLLEGE, DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH & COMMUNICATION (SELECTED)
- Communications RPT Vice-Chair, Fall 2014
- Search Committee, Communications Professor, 2013-2014
- Department Literature Committee, 2013-14
- Chair, Department of English and Communications Election Committee, Spring, 2013
- Foreign Language Department RPT Committee for Professor Jody Ballah, Spring 2013
- Foreign Language Department RPT Committee for Professor Angie Woods, Fall 2012
- Judge, Songwriting Contest, 2008-2015
- Department Semester Conversion Committee, 2009-2010
- Department Search Committee, 2006-07
- Chair, Department RPT, 1999-2000
- Vice-Chair, Department RPT, 1998-99
- Chair, Writing Lab Committee, 1995-96
- Faculty Coordinator, Computer Writing Center, 1989-1996
- Chair, Building Proposal Committee, 1992
- Department Chair, 1982-1989
COMMUNITY SERVICE
READER/REVIEWER
- The Hemingway Review, 2013-present
- Indiana University Press, 2013-14.
OTHER MUSICAL PERFORMANCES (SELECTED)
- Starfire University, July 19, 2012, July 9, 2012, January 23, 2012, Sept. 29, 2011, Sept. 19, 2011, March 31, 2011, Dec. 21, 2010, Dec. 9, 2010, December 3, 2010, Oct. 7, 2010, July 28, 2010, April 29, 2010, March 26, 2010, Feb. 4, 2010
- St. Barnabas Church, December 8, 2010
- Mallard Cove Retirement Village, July 14, 2010
- St. Barnabas Church, December 9, 2009
- Good Shepherd Church, Sept. 10, 2009
- Bluebird Café, Sunday Night Showcase, July 29, 1990
OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICE
- Study Abroad Interviews, UC Blue Ash College, Peru Study Abroad Program, 2018.
- Secretary, Park Hills Home Owner’s Association Board of Directors, 2016-18.
- Editor, Tri-State Dharma Newsletter, 2004-2010 (author “The Traveling Buddhist” column).
HONORS AND AWARDS
- Professor Emeritus of English, University of Cincinnati (2015)
- A.B. “Dolly” Cohen Excellence in Teaching Award nomination (2009)
- Diversity is Beautiful Award, UC Blue Ash College (formerly Raymond Walters College) (2007)
- Distinguished Teaching Award, UC Blue Ash College (formerly Raymond Walters College) (2002)
- Who’s Who in the Midwest (1993)
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
- Ernest Hemingway Society
- National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)
- Society for the Study of Midwestern Literature (SSML)