Kate Natishan

Kate Natishan serves as an Assistant Professor in the General Faculty at the University of Virginia, maintaining her office in Bryan Hall. Her academic appointment centers on Rhetoric and Writing within the university's scholarly ecosystem.

Her educational foundation includes:

• Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Writing from Virginia Tech (2020)
• M.A. in Medieval Literature from Virginia Tech (2012)
• B.A. in English from McDaniel College (2009)

Dr. Natishan's research investigates rhetorical dimensions of policymaking, particularly purity policies and censorship mechanisms impacting queer communities in digital spaces. She examines how communities self-define versus external characterization, with historical analysis of U.S. military gender regulations and sexual assault policies following high-profile scandals. Her work bridges queer studies, institutional rhetorics, and fan/popular culture analysis.

Teaching philosophy emphasizes critical writing engagement to cultivate cultural and political literacies, empowering students as intentional community members and citizens. Conference presentations demonstrate applied scholarship across medieval adaptation studies, parasocial relationships in digital media, and archival visibility of queer content.