Brad Mehlenbacher

Brad Mehlenbacher is Professor of Rhetoric and Communication in the Department of English Language & Literature at the University of Waterloo's Faculty of Arts. He is an accomplished scholar whose work bridges rhetoric, communication studies, and technology, with a particular focus on how emerging technologies influence instruction and learning.

His research interests include:

• Rhetoric and communication theory
• Technical, scientific, and engineering communication
• Human-computer interaction
• Learning sciences and instructional design
• Genre theory and datafication

Mehlenbacher's scholarly work demonstrates a consistent trajectory exploring the intersection of communication, technology, and learning. His recent publications focus on contemporary issues such as the rhetoric of big data, misinformation as genre function, and the relationship between science communication and public discourse, particularly in contexts like the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change reporting. His work shows how rhetorical principles apply to emerging digital environments and scientific communication challenges.

Notable awards:

• Winner of 2012 National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) / Conference on College Composition and Communication's Best Book in Technical and Scientific Communication Award for "Instruction and Technology: Designs for Everyday Learning"

Mehlenbacher has been actively involved in teaching at the University of Waterloo, offering courses such as Rhetorical Theory and Criticism (ENGL 292), Contemporary Rhetoric (ENGL 309C), Communication in the Engineering Profession (ENGL 192), and Communication in the Sciences (ENGL 193). His teaching reflects his research interests, connecting theoretical frameworks with practical communication challenges in technical and scientific contexts.

He has also collaborated extensively with his wife, Dr. Ashley Rose Mehlenbacher, who is noted as his collaborator in the biographical information.