Leslie Harris

Leslie Harris is a Professor and Department Chair in the Department of Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, part of the College of Letters & Science. Her research focuses on rhetoric and public culture, particularly intersectional identity, race, and gender. She holds a PhD, MA, and BS in Communication Studies and Gender Studies from Northwestern University.

Education:

• PhD, Communication Studies, Northwestern University
• MA, Communication Studies, Northwestern University
• BS, Communication Studies and Gender Studies, Northwestern University

Research Interests: Dr. Harris examines how public controversies intersect with race, gender, and identity. Recent projects include the Voices of Gun Violence public humanities initiative. Her work critiques white supremacy in historical rhetoric and explores how marginalized groups construct cultural narratives.

Publications: Her 2023 book The Rhetoric of White Slavery and the Making of National Identity won the Marie Hochmuth-Nichols Award. Articles span topics like gun violence rhetoric in Milwaukee, anti-suffrage discourses, and racialized urban space constructions.

Awards: Recipient of the Marie Hochmuth-Nichols Distinguished Book Award (2023).

Teaching: Courses include Rhetorical Theory, Rhetorics of Radicalism, and Women’s Rights in U.S. Rhetoric. She emphasizes community engagement and critical analysis.