Lester C. Olson

Lester C. Olson is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Communication at the University of Pittsburgh, with a secondary appointment in the Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies Program. He is affiliated with the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences and has held roles such as co-editor of Human Rights Rhetoric: Traditions of Testifying and Witnessing (2012) and authored books on Benjamin Franklin and visual rhetoric.

His research focuses on public address, visual rhetoric, and human rights rhetoric, with a critical emphasis on intersectionality and challenging single-issue identity politics. Notable works explore the rhetoric of Audre Lorde, colonial symbolism, and the role of imagery in social justice movements. Olson teaches undergraduate and graduate courses on human rights rhetoric, visual rhetoric, and communication's impact on social differences.

His articles and books reflect a commitment to interdisciplinary scholarship, particularly in analyzing historical and contemporary discourses related to identity, justice, and public advocacy. Though no scientific awards are explicitly mentioned, his contributions to rhetoric and communication studies are highlighted through his publications and editorial roles.

Olson actively collaborates with scholars like Cara A. Finnegan, Diane S. Hope, and Arabella Lyon, contributing to edited volumes and special issues. His work bridges communication theory with practical applications in healthcare, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and colonial history, emphasizing the interconnectedness of social issues.