Dr. James Beggs graduated with a major in Communication Studies from Louisiana State University. He also minored in Radio-Television-Film, Rhetoric and Persuasion, and English and Literary Criticism. In his ten years at Grand Canyon University, he has served as a Professor of Humanities, Director of Academic Excellence, Associate Dean, and Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, and Chair of Communications/Speech. A sustaining member of the National Communication Association, Dr. Beggs has participated in more than 25 convention programs and presentations. For the last three years, Dr. Beggs has been Visiting Professor of International Political and Business Communication at the International University in Vienna, Austria. In addition, he has also been a Visiting Professor of English at Shanghai Teachers Normal University in Shanghai, China and at the East-West Foundation in Rabat, Morocco where he taught Conversational English.
Dr. Beggs has participated in, or lead, groups serving the people of Austria, Germany, China, Venezuela, Honduras, France, and Morocco. While in Miami, he served as Assistant to Head of Volunteers at the Lipton International Tennis Championships for eight years. One of Dr. Beggs most recent claims to fame are his "raps." At 67 years-old, James makes up songs to help students remember key elements of the course material, to honor outstanding athlete performance, or just for fun. Don't be surprised if you see him at an upcoming "open mic" rapping about Thomas Aquinas and the Summum Bonum.
