Denise M. Bostdorff

Denise M. Bostdorff is a Professor of Communication Studies at The College of Wooster, currently on leave for the 2024-25 academic year. She holds a Ph.D. from Purdue University (1987), an M.A. from the University of Illinois (1983), and a B.S. from Bowling Green State University (1982). Her research focuses on political rhetoric, presidential communication during crises, and issues of war, peace, and race. She has authored two influential books and published widely in journals like the Quarterly Journal of Speech and Rhetoric & Public Affairs.

Dr. Bostdorff has taught courses ranging from introductory communication studies to advanced topics like rhetorical criticism and the rhetoric of civil rights. Her work has been recognized with prestigious awards including the Bruce E. Gronbeck Award (2010) and the Jeanne Robertson Outstanding Communication Professor Award (2000). She has advised student organizations such as Lambda Pi Eta and College Democrats, exemplifying her commitment to experiential learning. Her scholarship bridges historical analysis with contemporary issues, emphasizing how rhetoric shapes public memory and political action.

Notable research includes analyses of presidential speeches on crises, the rhetorical evolution of Cold War policies, and modern political figures like Barack Obama and Donald Trump. Her work often explores the intersection of power, memory, and identity in public discourse.