Nathaniel Rivers

Nathaniel Rivers is a Professor of English at Saint Louis University's College of Arts and Sciences. His research reimagines rhetoric beyond traditional human-centric models, focusing on nonhuman actors and ecological systems. He explores how persuasion occurs through material and discursive interactions in environments, technology, and public discourse.

Education:

• Ph.D. in English, Purdue University (2009)
• M.A. in English, Purdue University (2005)
• B.A. in English and Psychology, University of Southern Indiana (2003)

Research Interests: Professor Rivers investigates new materialist frameworks to analyze ecological rhetorics, technology's role in communication, and the ethical implications of nonhuman agency. He critiques anthropocentric assumptions in rhetoric, advocating for inclusive systems that account for material and environmental interactions. His work bridges rhetoric with philosophy, environmental studies, and cognitive science.

Publications & Media: His work includes co-editing Thinking with Bruno Latour in Rhetoric and Composition and authoring influential articles on ecological pedagogy, public rhetoric, and posthumanist ethics. Recent publications explore climate rhetorics, digital publics, and the ethics of nonhuman mattering.

Awards:

• Innovative Teaching Fellowship (2012) for developing a New Media Science Writing course.

Advising & Grants: While no formal students are listed, his collaborative projects highlight mentorship in interdisciplinary teams. He has secured institutional support for pedagogical innovation, emphasizing hands-on, technology-focused teaching.

Labs/Teams: Active in rhetoric and composition research networks, particularly those exploring materialist and ecological turns in humanities disciplines.