1946
Dr. Zarefsky is born in Washington to Joseph Leon and Miriam Ethel Zarefsky.
1968
Dr. Zarefsky receives a Bachelor of Science with highest distinction from Northwestern University.
1968
Dr. Zarefsky becomes an instructor of communication studies and director of the Forensics Division of the National High School Institute at Northwestern.
1969
Dr. Zarefsky receives a Master of Arts from Northwestern University.
1970
Dr. Zarefsky marries Nikki Sheryl Martin.
1974
Dr. Zarefsky receives a Doctor of Philosophy from Northwestern University.
1974
Dr. Zarefsky becomes an assistant professor at Northwestern University.
1975
Dr. Zarefsky is appointed department chairman at Northwestern University, he served in this position until 1983.
1977
Dr. Zarefsky is promoted to associate professor at Northwestern University.
1982
Dr. Zarefsky is promoted to full professor at Northwestern University.
1983
Dr. Zarefsky is appointed associate dean of the School of Speech at Northwestern University, he served in this position until 1988.
1988
Dr. Zarefsky is appointed dean of the School of Speech at Northwestern University, he served in this position until 2000.
1993
Dr. Zarefsky is elected president of the National Communication Association.
1994
Dr. Zarefsky is named a Distinguished Scholar of the National Communication Association.
2006
Dr. Zarefsky is elected president of the Rhetoric Society of America. He serves a second term in 2010.
2009
Dr. Zarefsky retires from full-time teaching and is appointed Professor Emeritus at Northwestern University.
2010
Dr. Zarefsky serves as a visiting professor of English at Harvard University.
2012
Dr. Zarefsky receives the Wallace A. Bacon Lifetime Teaching Excellence Award from the National Communication Association.
2015
Dr. Zarefsky serves as a visiting professor of communication arts and sciences at Pennsylvania State University.
2018
Dr. Zarefsky serves as visiting senior scholar at the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania.