Josie Burks

Josie Burks is an Instructional Assistant Professor of Management at the University of Mississippi's School of Business Administration, Department of Management. She holds a Ph.D. in Communication and Information Sciences from the University of Alabama (2020) and a B.S. in Communications Studies from the University of Southern Mississippi (2014). Her teaching focuses on Entrepreneurial Pitching, Negotiation, and Business Communication, with a classroom emphasis on persuasive skills for corporate and entrepreneurial contexts.

Research Interests: Her research explores Entrepreneurial Pitching, Persuasion and Rhetoric, Narrative Building, and Legitimacy in Business contexts. She collaborates with entrepreneurs, economic development professionals, and executives to refine persuasive presentations for stakeholders.

Her academic work has been presented at leading conferences including the Academy of Management and Strategic Management Association. She advises student teams in business plan competitions and focuses on cross-disciplinary pedagogy in entrepreneurship education.

Professional Contributions: Josie bridges academic research with practical applications, emphasizing rhetorical theory in business communication. Her recent work (2024) examines cognitive legitimacy in failed product pitches and integrates rhetorical canons into teaching methodologies.

Teaching and advising remain central to her role, with an emphasis on nurturing persuasive communication skills critical for venture creation and professional success.