Faculty Bio: Rick Sparks, Ph.D.
Rick Sparks, Ph.D.
Professor
Phone: 864-663-0057
E-mail: rick.sparks@ngu.edu
Dr. Rick Sparks is Professor of Mass Communication at North Greenville University. He joined the NGU mass communication faculty in 2008 after decades of experience as a broadcaster, church media practitioner and college professor. Dr. Sparks holds the Ph.D. in communication from the University of Missouri, the M.A. in communication from Pittsburg State University, the M.C.M. degree in church music from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and the B.S. in communication from the University of Tennessee. He has taught on the communication faculties of John Brown University (AR), Lee University (TN), Vernon Regional Junior College (TX) and North Greenville University.
Dr. Sparks’ extensive experience in broadcasting includes working as an announcer, program director, news director and general manager at six different radio stations. He served for 12 years as program director and general manager at KLRC FM 101.1, Siloam Springs, Arkansas, a station owned and operated by John Brown University. KLRC (www.klrc.com) has received multiple awards as Station of the Year from the Gospel Music Association and remains the only college-owned station to win a GMA Dove Award. Dr. Sparks also served for several years as a media minister on two church staffs in Tennessee, where he produced radio and television programming for use in the church and on local broadcast and cable television.
As a young broadcaster in the 1980s, Rick Sparks hosted one of the first Christian rock programs in the United States. “Higher Power” was broadcast nightly from 1980-83 on WXLN FM-104 in Louisville, Kentucky. The show is now back on the air on Live365.com, where you can hear the original songs and artists from the early 80s, as well as current examples of radio production by Dr. Sparks including imaging drops and artist profiles. A website dedicated to the show with archived airchecks and artist interviews is at www.higherpowerrock.com.
Dr. Sparks and his wife, Sandie, attend First Baptist Church of North Spartanburg, where he plays the keyboard and his wife sings in the choir. Dr. Sparks is also an indie recording artist and has recorded several CDs of keyboard music; his most recent release is “Christmas Love”, available at www.CDBaby.com. Besides music, Dr. Sparks’ passions include his Mazda Miata (top-down, of course), photography, cycling and flying. He holds the rank of Major as a mission pilot in the Civil Air Patrol, the civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force.
Dr. Sparks currently teaches Intro to Mass Communication, Audio/Radio Production, Broadcast Writing, Broadcast Journalism, Broadcast Programming, and Music Recording Industry. In his words, “There’s never been a greater need for believers in Christ to make a difference through innovative and excellent work in radio, television, movies, web design, journalism, media ministry, advertising and public relations. Our students at NGU love the work with a passion – it’s both fun and hugely influential in our culture. I’m blessed to be part of a program that emphasizes hands-on, application-based learning at a school where Christ truly does make a difference.”
