Ashley McDonald

Ashley McDonald serves as an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Communication Arts and Sciences at Pennsylvania State University's University Park campus, with office location in 229 Sparks Building.

Her educational qualifications include:

• B.A. from the University of Southern Mississippi (2017)
• M.A. from the University of Cincinnati (2019)
• Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin (2023)

Dr. McDonald's research critically examines intersections of race, queerness, and disability through rhetorical and organizational communication frameworks, with concentrated focus on Black American Diaspora experiences within academic institutions. Her work analyzes systemic barriers in higher education while investigating student advocacy mechanisms and representation dynamics in popular culture. This scholarship bridges theoretical frameworks with practical applications in diversity initiatives and institutional policy reform.

Her teaching portfolio encompasses foundational and specialized rhetoric courses including Public Speaking, Persuasion, Rhetorical Criticism, and Narratives from the Margins, emphasizing marginalized perspectives in communication practices.