Frank Stec

Frank Stec is an Associate Teaching Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences at The Pennsylvania State University. His research focuses on war rhetoric, democratic deliberation, and the role of numbers in political discourse. He holds a PhD from Penn State (2014) and degrees from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (BS & BA 2004, MA 2009). His work examines how numerical data shapes public perception of war and citizenship.

Education:

• PhD, Communication Arts and Sciences (2014), Penn State
• MA, Communication (2009), UIUC
• BS & BA (Political Science & Media Studies, 2004), UIUC

Research: Stec investigates the rhetorical functions of numbers in war narratives, emphasizing how metrics influence democratic engagement. He advocates for enhancing public literacy to foster meaningful deliberation on military policies. Key areas include casualty counts, drone warfare discourse, and secret deliberation in national security.

Awards:

• "Awarded with Honors" at Penn State (CV notation)

Teaching & Advising: He teaches courses like Rhetorical Theory, Communication and Technology, and War on Terror Rhetoric. His pedagogy emphasizes critical thinking and civic engagement through rhetorical analysis.