K.J. Peters

K.J. Peters is a Professor of English at Loyola Marymount University (LMU), where he has taught for nearly two decades. He specializes in rhetoric and composition, particularly Jesuit rhetoric, and offers courses such as American Literature, Rhetorical Arts, and Critical Theory. His work emphasizes engaging students with theoretical frameworks to analyze texts and explore themes like the American frontier myth. Peters is also involved in academic governance, serving on the Faculty Senate and as a Faculty Athletic Representative.

Peters earned his Doctorate from the University of Nebraska, specializing in critical theory and interrogative rhetorics. Before LMU, he was a professor at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver.

His research focuses on rhetoric, composition studies, and American literature, with a particular emphasis on Jesuit rhetorical traditions. He explores how literary works and films shape cultural narratives, such as the myth of the American West, as seen in his upcoming summer course analyzing Hollywood films like *The Searchers* and *Rogue One*. His work bridges literary criticism with contemporary media studies, aiming to uncover underlying societal beliefs and their evolution.

Outside the classroom, Peters oversees the Irish Studies Program and contributes to academic governance through his roles in the Faculty Senate and as a Faculty Athletic Representative. His textbook, *The Argument Handbook* (Broadview Press), is forthcoming in 2023.