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Faculty in Rhetoric and Political Culture

Robert N. Gaines, Associate Professor (Ph.D., University of Iowa)

Dr. Gaines’ research is concerned with the idea of rhetoric as a matter of historical and practical interest. His primary research program addresses the individuals and intellectual forces that shaped rhetorical theory in ancient times. His research has appeared in the Quarterly Journal of Speech, Rhetorica, Philosophy & Rhetoric, and Transactions of the American Philological Association, and elsewhere. Dr. Gaines is currently the editor of Advances in the History of Rhetoric.

Kathleen Kendall, Research Professor (Ph.D., Indiana University)

Dr. Kendall’s research and teaching interests focus on American political campaign communication, particularly the interaction of the candidates and the media. She is the author of two books: Communication in the Presidential Primaries: Candidates and the Media, 1912-2000, and Presidential Campaign Discourse: Strategic Communication Problems. Recent articles on the presidential primaries and debates have appeared in the Journal of Communication, American Behavioral Scientist, and Research Papers of the Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics, and Public Policy, Harvard University. She is one of eight researchers participating in the National Communication Association/American Forensic Association Presidential Debates Research Symposium. Dr. Kendall came to Maryland after a long career at the University at Albany, SUNY (New York), where she was also a frequent analyst of contemporary political discourse for the media.

James F. Klumpp, Professor (Ph.D., University of Minnesota)

Dr. Klumpp is a rhetorical critic interested in the use of discourse to effect social structure. His work in contemporary rhetorical theory concentrates on Kenneth Burke and the European continental critics. Argumentation is another interest, particularly social argumentation processes. A former president of the American Forensic Association, Dr. Klumpp’s research has appeared in the Quarterly Journal of Speech, Argumentation, Argumentation & Advocacy, Critical Studies in Mass Communication, and elsewhere. Dr. Klumpp recently edited the 3rd edition of American Rhetorical Discourse and coauthored Making Sense of Political Ideology: The Power of Language in Democracy.

Shawn J. Parry-Giles, Associate Professor (Ph.D., Indiana University)

Dr. Parry-Giles teaches and studies rhetoric and politics. Her research has appeared in the Quarterly Journal of Speech, Presidential Studies Quarterly, Rhetoric & Public Affairs, and elsewhere. She is the author of The Rhetorical Presidency, Propaganda, and the Cold War, 1945-1955, the co-author of Constructing Clinton: Hyperreality and Presidential Image-Making in Postmodern Politics, as well as The Primetime Presidency: The West Wing and U.S. Nationalism. Dr. Parry-Giles is also the director of the University of Maryland’s Center for Political Communication and Civic Leadership.

Trevor Parry-Giles, Associate Professor (Ph.D., Indiana University)

Dr. Parry-Giles teaches and studies rhetoric and political culture and legal rhetoric. He is the co-author of Constructing Clinton: Hyperreality and Presidential Image-Making in Postmodern Politics. His research has appeared in the Quarterly Journal of Speech, Rhetoric & Public Affairs, Critical Studies in Mass Communication, and elsewhere.

Mari Boor Tonn, Associate Professor (Ph.D., University of Kansas)

Dr. Tonn specializes in feminist and rhetorical criticism, political communication, and public address, especially women labor movement leaders and first- and second-wave feminists. Her research has appeared in Quarterly Journal of Speech, Rhetoric & Public Affairs, Text and Performance Quarterly, and elsewhere. She has received the National Communication Association's Karl Wallace Memorial Award for excellence in rhetorical scholarship, the Eastern Communication Association's Past Presidents’ Award for excellence in scholarship and service, and the Best Essay of the Year Award from the Organization for the Study of Communication, Language, and Women.