Mary E. Triece

Mary E. Triece is a Professor in the School of Communication at the University of Akron and Director of The Women’s Studies Program. Her expertise spans rhetorical theory, feminist criticism, and social movement rhetorics. She holds a Ph.D. in Speech Communication from the University of Texas at Austin (1997), alongside an M.A. (1992) and B.B.A. (1990).

Dr. Triece’s research focuses on intersections of race, gender, and urban spaces, with notable works like Urban Renewal and Resistance (2016)—awarded the NCA Diamond Anniversary Book Award—and On the Picket Line (2007). She has authored four books and over 20 peer-reviewed articles, contributing to journals like Western Journal of Communication and Journal of Communication Inquiry. Her edited works include Theories of Rhetoric: An Anthology (2018) and co-edited volumes on critical communication studies.

Her teaching spans rhetorical theory, argumentation, and public speaking. She actively engages in interdisciplinary scholarship, directing the Women’s Studies Program and co-editing the Oxford Encyclopedia of Communication and Critical Studies (2019). Recent work analyzes 21st-century urban planning discourses and antiracial rhetoric, reflecting her commitment to socially engaged scholarship.

• Awards: NCA Diamond Anniversary Book Award (2016)
• Key Contributions: Over 15 years of academic leadership, 4 solo-authored books, and 3 edited volumes
• Teaching: Courses include Theories of Rhetoric, Rhetorical Criticism, and Capstone seminars on rhetoric, race, and health