Peter K. Bsumek

Peter K. Bsumek serves as Professor in the School of Communication Studies at James Madison University. He has held significant leadership roles including director of the MA program in Communication and Advocacy and coordinator of the undergraduate interdisciplinary Environmental Studies minor program.

Bsumek earned his B.S. in Political Science from the University of Utah and completed both his M.A. and Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Communication at the University of Pittsburgh. His academic journey has positioned him as a leading scholar at the intersection of communication, environmental issues, and social justice.

Professor Bsumek's research focuses on rhetoric, advocacy, and decision-making processes, with particular emphasis on environmental communication and social justice. His work critically examines how communication shapes environmental policies, public perceptions of climate change, and social movements. He investigates the rhetorical strategies employed by various stakeholders including environmental activists, industry representatives, and policymakers, with special attention to how neoliberal ideologies influence environmental discourse and decision-making. His scholarship consistently bridges theoretical frameworks with practical applications for addressing contemporary environmental challenges.

Bsumek's publications reveal a consistent trajectory examining the intersection of communication, environmental issues, and power structures. His work spans rhetorical analysis of climate activism, critiques of corporate environmental communication, and examinations of how social justice issues intersect with environmental discourse. Recent publications increasingly focus on affective dimensions of environmental communication, examining how emotions like shame, contempt, and hope shape public engagement with climate issues. His collaborative work demonstrates a strong commitment to interdisciplinary approaches, frequently partnering with scholars across environmental studies, political science, and sociology.

• J. Robert Cox Award for Environmental Communication and Civic Engagement (2014)
• Christine Oravec Research Award (2014)
• Tarla Rai Peterson Book Award in Environmental Communication (2016)
• Tarla Rai Peterson Outstanding Environmental Communication Book of the Year (2016)
• Christine L. Oravec Research Award (2014) for 'Corporate Ventriloquism'

As an educator, Bsumek regularly teaches undergraduate courses in environmental communication & advocacy, social movement rhetoric, and communication theory, along with graduate courses in advocacy and environmental communication. He serves as a founding member of the International Environmental Communication Association (IECA), demonstrating his commitment to building scholarly communities focused on environmental communication. His leadership roles in program development have helped shape curriculum that prepares students to engage critically with environmental issues through communication frameworks.

Professor Bsumek's research program operates at the nexus of academic scholarship and real-world environmental challenges. His collaborative projects often involve interdisciplinary teams examining how communication shapes environmental policy, public understanding of climate issues, and social movement strategies. His work with colleagues on coal industry rhetoric has been particularly influential in understanding how fossil fuel industries frame environmental issues to advance their interests.