Kelsey Abele

Dr. Kelsey Abele serves as Assistant Professor of Communication and Director of Forensics at West Texas A&M University within the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities, Department of Communication, a position she has held since 2021. She teaches courses including Basic and Advanced Public Speaking, Argumentation, Rhetoric of Popular Culture, Oral Interpretation of Literature, and all Forensics courses.

Her academic credentials include a BA in English and Art History from Gustavus Adolphus College (2014), an MA in Communication Studies from Kansas State University, and a PhD from Arizona State University's Hugh Downs School of Human Communication (2020).

Dr. Abele's research centers on the interplay between memory and film, nostalgia, and historical representation, examining how cinematic narratives shape collective recollection. She extends this work into rhetorical studies of popular culture and actively applies theoretical frameworks to competitive forensics training. Her scholarship bridges academic theory with practical coaching through student-guided projects.

No scientific awards were explicitly attributed to Dr. Abele in the provided materials.

As Director of Forensics, she mentors students in competitive speech and debate, notably guiding Alejandro Mata through the Manchester Scholar Grant awarded by the American Forensic Association National Speech Tournament (AFA-NST). She oversees the WTAMU Forensics team's national competitions and develops student research initiatives within the program.

Dr. Abele organizes major regional events including the Guy P. Yates High School Speech and Debate tournament each fall and District Academic and Speech UIL contests each spring, establishing herself as a key regional figure in advancing competitive speech education from secondary through collegiate levels.