Ross F Collins

Ross is a proud Minnesota native, graduating from Moorhead High School, well, some years ago. He continued his education at Moorhead State University. He was editor of the university’s student newspaper, the Advocate, and played saxophone in the university jazz band. He considered a major in music before realizing his talent was mediocre at best. So instead he moved toward a career in photojournalism, at which he showed slightly greater ability. He worked briefly in that role at both the Detroit Lakes (Minnesota) Tribune and the Fargo-Moorhead Forum before deciding he could build a more secure (if less fun) future by shifting to reporting and editing.

Having curiosity about the world beyond his Midwest experience, and a rebel streak, Ross pursued a degree in mass communication, a second degree in history, and a minor in French. (He will admit he signed up for French 101 only because he liked a girl in the class, but while that didn’t work out, the French classes really stretched his sheltered world view.) After graduating in 1978 Ross worked in journalism for a year before deciding to take a break by combining graduate school and living overseas. He moved to Britain where he completed a master’s degree in European history at the University of Warwick. Returning to Minnesota he launched (with modest success) a free-lance writing and photography business out of his apartment. Three years in that role never made him much money but certainly gave him experience in all kinds of media for all kinds of clients. In 1984 he joined Moorhead State’s staff as a public relations writer and instructor of mass communication. Facing an uncertain future in a changing world of journalism, after his first year of teaching Ross decided his best shot at job stability probably lay in higher education.

The department chair warned him that without a doctorate he’d live his entire academic career in junior status. He decided to return to Britain for a Ph.D. at the University of Cambridge (Queens’ College), studying French journalism history during the Third Republic. He spent a year in France doing research.

While finishing his dissertation Ross joined the public relations staff of the University of North Dakota Medical School (Rural Health office) and taught communication classes. In 1993 he moved as an assistant professor to North Dakota State University, where he has worked since.

For a full vita including publications and presentations consult Ross’s website rossfcollins.com.

Journalism history. Areas of expertise include French journalism 1815-1940; U.S. western frontier journalism during the Long Drive Era (1866-1890); World War I journalism; children and war.

History of chocolate; history of medicine.

A variety of courses at undergraduate graduate levels, including beginning and advanced media writing, editing, photography, graphic design, ethics, history of mass media and graduate research methods.

A variety of work in reporting, editing, photojournalism, graphic design and public relations.

Historians seldom get significant grants.

Former president of American Journalism Historians Association.

American Journalism Historians Association; Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication; Communication, Theatre and Speech Association of North Dakota; Society for the Study of French History.