Acknowledgements

We want to acknowledge our various college and university campuses that have provided us with the support, encouragement, and goodwill that made this project possible. Without our academic homes, projects like these would never take flight.

We would like to thank the multitude of people who helped bring the first edition of Stand Up, Speak Out to life. Our deepest appreciation goes to Janice Walker Anderson for her invaluable help in drafting the initial version of the chapter on communication apprehension—your insight and energy left a lasting mark on this project. We also extend sincere thanks to our original editorial team at Flat World Knowledge: Elsa Peterson, our developmental editor, for her wisdom and steady hand throughout the writing process; Jenn Yee and KB Mello, our editorial supervisors, for their patience, professionalism, and attention to detail; and Michael Boezi, whose belief in our work and continued leadership made this project possible. (And yes, Michael, thank you again for that wonderful meal and conversation at the Gilded Otter!)

For the second edition, we are especially grateful to Vicki Brentnall for her guidance and thoughtful advice as we refined and expanded the textbook. Your feedback helped us strengthen the clarity and focus of the work as it continued to evolve.

For this third edition, we owe special thanks to Allison Brown, Digital Publishing Services Manager at SUNY Geneseo, home of Milne Open Textbooks. Allison’s dedication to open education and her tireless work in bringing Stand Up, Speak Out into the Pressbooks platform at Milne Publishing gave this textbook a new life and ensured that it remains freely available to students and educators around the world.

We are also indebted to the many reviewers whose insight and constructive criticism helped us shape and polish this work. Your feedback reined us in when needed and pushed us to make every chapter stronger:

• Jodie Mandel, College of Southern Nevada

• Emily Brandenberger, Kutztown University

• Harlene Adams, California State University, Sacramento

• Bridgette Colaco, Troy University

• Jason Warren, George Mason University

• Helen Prien, Ferrum College

• Kevin Backstrom, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh

• Zachary Justus, California State University, Chico

• J. M. Grenier, Middlesex Community College

• Brent Adrian, Central Community College–Grand Isle

• Braze Brickwedel, Tallahassee Community College

• Clark Friesen, Lone Star College

• Bryan Crow, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

• David Bashore, College of the Desert

• Diana Cooley, Lone Star College–North Harris

• Chad D. Malone, Ivy Tech Community College–Columbus, Indiana Campus

• Burton St. John III, Old Dominion University

• Steven D. Cohen, University of Maryland

• Deborah Bridges, University of Houston, Central Campus

• Cameron Basquiat, California State University, Chico

Finally, our most heartfelt thanks go to the students who have taken our public speaking classes over the years. Teaching is always an act of experimentation, and our students have been our most valuable collaborators—helping us test ideas, refine examples, and bring theory to life. The cumulative knowledge reflected in this book comes from our experiences as teachers, scholars, and learners alongside them. Without their curiosity, courage, and voices, Stand Up, Speak Out would not exist.