Kelly Norris Martin

Kelly Norris Martin is Professor and Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). She holds a BA from John Carroll University, and MS and PhD degrees from North Carolina State University. Her research explores visual communication, rhetoric, and digital media, with significant projects examining communication competence in STEM workplaces and pedagogical strategies for deaf/hard-of-hearing students.

Her interdisciplinary research bridges communication studies, education, and technology, focusing on visual methodologies, workplace communication dynamics, and equity in higher education. Recent work investigates communication socialization in technical fields and problem-solving transferability in STEM education.

Martin's scholarly output demonstrates consistent focus on visual rhetoric applications in professional contexts. Her 15 most recent publications (2015-2023) predominantly address: communication pedagogy in STEM (60%), workplace socialization (20%), visual methodology (13%), and political communication (7%). Longitudinal trends reveal increasing emphasis on equity and employability in technical education.

As co-PI on two NSF-funded projects (Exploring Multiple Postsecondary Opportunities through Workforce and Education Research and accessibility initiatives), she examines workforce readiness skills and inclusive pedagogical resources. Her leadership extends to developing curricular frameworks that integrate communication competencies across disciplines.