Merete Pettersen

Merete Pettersen is a PhD candidate at the Department of Linguistics and Nordic Studies, University of Oslo, focusing on rhetoric and linguistic communication. Her research explores the intersection of trust reform in the public sector and rhetorical agency, analyzing how bureaucratic systems navigate hierarchical constraints to empower frontline workers.

Her work combines textual analysis, rhetorical criticism, and reception studies, with a specific focus on the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV). Publications highlight themes of political communication, administrative texts, and the democratization of workplace practices.

• Rhetoric
• Rhetorical Agency
• Trust Reform
• Public Sector Governance
• Democracy

She teaches courses on Text and Communication (RETKOM1102) and holds a BA (2017) and MA (2020) in Rhetoric and Linguistic Communication from the University of Oslo.