Sean Patrick O'Rourke

Sean Patrick O'Rourke is Professor of Rhetoric and American Studies at The University of the South (Sewanee), holding joint appointments and serving as Chair of both programs, Co-Director of the Center for Speaking & Listening, and Co-Coordinator of the Southern Colloquium on Rhetoric. His work centers on rhetoric's role in democratic civic life, focusing on freedom of speech, protest discourse, and legal rhetoric within American public culture.

O'Rourke's educational background includes:

• B.A. and M.A. from Humboldt State University
• J.D. and Ph.D. from the University of Oregon

His research examines the rhetoric of civil rights movements, judicial opinions, and protest strategies, with particular attention to how communication shapes democratic engagement. O'Rourke investigates historical and contemporary manifestations of public address, emphasizing embodied protest tactics like sit-ins and the rhetorical construction of legal rights. His scholarship bridges rhetorical theory, legal studies, and social movement analysis to explore how discourse enables collective action and civic participation.

Recent publications demonstrate consistent focus on civil rights rhetoric, judicial discourse, and protest communication across historical and contemporary contexts. O'Rourke's work reveals patterns in how marginalized groups deploy rhetorical strategies to challenge power structures, with increasing attention to visual rhetoric and the role of memory in social justice movements.

Award highlights include:

• NEH and Lilly Fellowships (multiple)
• Howard Hughes Medical Institute Distinguished Mentorship Award
• Donald Ragsdale Award for Mentoring
• University Award for Excellence in Scholarship
• James Madison Award for Free Speech Scholarship

O'Rourke has directed over 100 undergraduate research projects resulting in conference presentations and publications, supported by grants from the Mellon Foundation, Associated Colleges of the South, and Alliance to Advance Liberal Arts Colleges. He co-directed Sewanee's Quality Enhancement Plan (2016-2021) focused on speaking and learning.

He co-directs the Center for Speaking & Listening, coordinates the Southern Colloquium on Rhetoric, and advises the Sewanee Debate Union, fostering student development in public discourse and competitive debate.