Broadly speaking, my research focuses on the discourse surrounding controversial national and international issues. That general interest breaks down into four specific topics:

Apologetic Rhetoric and Society—This area of research relates to the professional writing and rhetoric used by corporations, politicians, government officials, and public figures who are accused of wrongdoing. It is of interest to anyone with a passion for business, communications, public relations, peace studies, international relations, politics and even pop culture. Essentially, this area of research involves examining how apologetic exchanges negotiate the values, collective memory, and identities of societies as well as how those exchanges are shaped by culture, context, documentation and delivery.

Rhetoric of Genocide, Intervention, and Reconciliation—I also study how government officials, politicians, and civic leaders respond to atrocities, genocide, and human rights violations. This consists of analyzing rhetoric used to describe human rights violations, genocide, and the rebuilding of communities in the wake of such atrocities, particularly in relation to Rwanda. It also consists of analyzing the intervention rhetoric used by government officials and advocacy groups attempting to solicit aid for developing nations or victims of human rights violations.

Ethics in Communication—Ethical considerations in business writing and communications is one of the most important elements that professional writers and students of writing can learn. In business and politics, events happen fast – and responses need to be developed and delivered almost instantly in today’s wired, social media world. Therefore, a foundation of ethical considerations, obligations to different stakeholders, and best practices is crucial. One of the areas in particular that I study and feel deserves additional academic attention is the ethic of delivering product recalls and safety notices via new media and social networking sites.

Qualitative Research—Finally, I am interested in studying and teaching about theories of qualitative research, including:

• Rhetorical analysis, such as generic criticism, content analysis, rhetoric of social intervention, fantasy-theme analysis, and ideographic criticism
• Field research methods, such as interviews, focus groups, discourse completion tests, (semi)ethnographic observation, and questionnaires

If you’re interested in these topics and would like to learn more about my research or discuss these ideas with me, please contact me.

You can also review my teaching philosophy.