Beth Innocenti

Beth Innocenti is a Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Kansas. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois. Her research focuses on argumentation theory and the history of rhetoric, particularly examining how public political discourse generates persuasive force. She teaches courses such as "Rhetoric of Women's Rights," "Persuasive Speaking," and "Research Methods: Historical and Descriptive."

In her research, Innocenti explores strategies for deliberative argumentation, the role of demands in marginalized group rhetoric, and historical analyses of rhetorical theories. Notable works include studies on mid-18th-century Scottish rhetoric and normative pragmatic theories of exhortation. Her publications appear in journals like Argumentation, Philosophy and Rhetoric, and Journal of Communication.

As an editor of Argumentation and Advocacy, she contributes to scholarly discourse on argumentation. Her work bridges historical and contemporary rhetorical practices, emphasizing ethical and practical dimensions of persuasive communication.