More than just a great teacher
Dr. Snyder was a great friend to all
On Thursday, March 27, 2008 the Department of Communication lost a colleague, but more importantly, lost a good friend. Dr. Lewis (Lee) Snyder, 58, died following open heart surgery at UNMC. He had spent the past 21 years teaching at UNK.
Lee was more than just a colleague to many, he was a close friend. His office sat in the heart of the department and as if by coincidence he was often the center for advice. Both faculty and students came to Lee seeking his wisdom and guidance. Dr. Snyder will be missed greatly not only for his achievements in the classroom, but also for the lasting impact he had on the students and faculty he worked with.
Dr. Snyder attended Kentucky Christian College, Southwest Missouri State University and Ohio State University, working his way through college by washing dishes, being the Silver Dollar City Magician, coaching college debate, pumping gas and selling sides of beef. He wrote books on public speaking and on magic, both with Dr. Robert Cocetti. He also wrote a video, Words That Made a Difference, produced by Nebraska Public Television.
Dr. Snyder's area of expertise was rhetoric. He said, "Rhetoric gives us ways to discuss matters that can’t be analyzed scientifically, such as who to vote for, how to live ethically, why people change their minds, how you can encourage change for the better, and how media shape the way we think. A person who understands rhetoric (persuasive communication) knows how to dissolve walls between people. Rhetoric also is an essential tool to understand worldviews and how they change."
Dr. Snyder's teaching philosophy was unique. He said, "Teaching is like preparing a buffet. Some people like one thing and others want to sample a little of each dish. If you are a well-prepared teacher, you know exactly the point of each lesson, but you should not expect that’s what the students will get from it. After class, a few students remember the main point, but another remembers that you were moody in the hall before class, another notices that you remembered her name this time, and a third remembers the story you told. So I spread out a variety of material and I direct people to what’s good, but I’m comfortable knowing that, in the end, students take away just what they need." Dr. Snyder taught courses in public speaking, logic and reasoning, and rhetoric (persuasion).