Sam Allen

Sam Allen is an Assistant Professor in Communication Studies at Randolph-Macon College. His research bridges communication, technology, culture, and power, focusing on political rhetoric, affect theory, and digital media dynamics. He holds a PhD from the University of Pittsburgh with certificates in Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies, and a MA/BA from the University of Wyoming in Communication Studies.

• PhD, Communication, University of Pittsburgh (2022)
• MA, Communication Studies, University of Wyoming (2014)
• BA, Communication Studies, University of Wyoming (2010)

His scholarship examines contemporary political rhetoric, the cultural implications of digital media, and the role of affect in shaping public discourse. Notably, he investigates political SMS communication, virtual reality pedagogy, and the rhetorical construction of masculinity in politics.

Recent publications appear in Communication Education, Communication Studies, and edited volumes. He received the Mednick Memorial Fellowship (2024) and grants for integrating AI literacy and VR into communication curricula.