Dr. Jennifer Mercieca

Professor

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Biography

Dr. Jennifer Mercieca is a historian of American political rhetoric who writes about American political discourse, especially as it relates to citizenship, democracy, and the presidency. She has published three books on political rhetoric: "Founding Fictions", "Rhetoric Heroic Expectations: Establishing Obama Presidency", and "Demagogue President: Rhetorical Genius Donald Trump". Her scholarship has appeared in numerous journals including the Quarterly Journal of Speech, Presidential Studies Quarterly, Rhetoric & Public Affairs, Argumentation & Advocacy, and Rhetoric Society Quarterly. Mercieca serves on the Editorial Boards of the Quarterly Journal of Speech, Rhetoric Society Quarterly, Southern Communication Journal, and Rhetoric & Public Affairs. Moreover, she is a Contributing Editor for Zócalo Public Square and has written about the rhetoric of politics for the USA, Washington Post, and other major media outlets. She has been featured in interviews on networks like BBC World News and NPR. In 2016, she received the Texas A&M Association of Students Distinguished Achievement Award for Teaching, the highest award given for faculty teaching at Texas A&M University. The Austin American Statesman has called her “probably the leading authority on Trump’s rhetoric” and her book “Demagogue President” has received numerous accolades, including being a “must read” from Salon and labeled one of the “best books of summer” by LitHub.

Research Interests

Experience

Professor

2010-08-15 — Present

Texas A&M University • College Station, TX

Teaching courses on rhetoric and communication while conducting research in political rhetoric.

Courses

COMM 438: Propaganda COMM 440: Political Communication COMM 431: Social Movements COMM 301: Rhetoric in Western Thought COMM 243: Argumentation COMM 640: Rhetorical Theory COMM 655: Citizenship and Public Sphere COMM 649: American Public Discourse before 1860

Requirements for Texas A&M University

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
GRE General
TOEFL
Total
Required:80
Prerequisites
Baccalaureate degree Baccalaureate degree in Communication or related field preferred
Application Checklist
  • Curriculum Vita
  • Statement of Purpose (500-750 words)
  • Writing Sample (up to 10,000 words)
  • Three Letters of Recommendation
  • Unofficial Transcripts
  • GraduateCAS Application
Specialization Notes

Department: Department of Communication and Journalism. Ph.D. program only currently admitting. GRE is test-optional.