معرفی
Matthew Heard is an Associate Professor in the Department of English at the University of North Texas (UNT), within the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. He has been a faculty member since 2007 and previously served as Director of the First-Year Writing Program, where he led a comprehensive curriculum redesign serving over 5,000 students annually.
Education:
- Ph.D. in English, UC Riverside, focus in Rhetoric and Composition Studies
- M.A. in English, UC Riverside
- Undergraduate studies, Abilene Christian University, Texas
His research centers on rhetorics of foster care, investigating how communication shapes identities and practices in child welfare systems. Drawing from archival research, personal narrative, and rhetorical theory, he examines how children, families, and communities use everyday rhetoric to navigate and resist systemic challenges. His work advocates for a shift from deficit models toward recognizing the rhetorical agency of those within the system.
His published work appears in top journals such as Philosophy and Rhetoric, Rhetoric Review, and College English, and in collections like Reinventing (with) Theory in Rhetoric and Writing Studies. Collectively, these publications emphasize using rhetorical theory to amplify community-driven justice efforts and foster public deliberation on complex social issues.
Scientific Awards:
- No awards explicitly mentioned in the text.
He is deeply committed to mentoring students and has guided both undergraduate and graduate researchers in rhetorical theory and its applications across academia, law, business, and technology. His administrative leadership in curriculum development reflects his broader commitment to inclusive and rhetorically grounded education. He also leads community-engaged scholarship through initiatives like the Foster Care Research Network, which connects faculty across English, Media Arts, and Social Work to support foster youth. As a licensed foster parent in Texas, he integrates lived experience with academic inquiry, ensuring his work remains accountable to the communities it engages.
Labs and Teams:
He founded and participated in the Foster Care Research Network at UNT, an interdisciplinary collaboration aimed at understanding and addressing the needs of foster youth through research and community partnership.
