Katherine (Kate) Lavelle

Assistant Professor

Communication

Research Interests

My primary research interest is rhetoric and sports. Since arriving at UNI in 2008, I have published the following book chapters: Fallen Sport Heroes, Media, and Celebrity Culture (forthcoming), Sports Fans, Identity, and Sociology (2012), The Rhetoric of American Exceptionalism: Champions and Challengers (2011), Sports mania: Essays in fandom and the media in the 21st century (2008). I have published essays in the International Journal of Sport Communication, the Howard Journal of Communications, and Contemporary Argumentation and Debate.

Courses Taught

Since arriving in 2008, I have taught the following courses:COMM 1000 Oral Communication, COMM COR 2020 Introduction to Research Methods, COMM 2257 Argumentation and Debate, COMM 4411/5411 Language and Communication, COMM 4211/COM 5211 Rhetorical Theories, COMM 4446/5446 Social Protest: Performance and Rhetoric, COMM 4426/5426 Political Communication, COMM 4559/5559 Teaching of Speech, COMM 4023/5023 Rhetorical Communication Research Methods

Personal/Professional Interests

I'm Dr. Katherine (Kate) Lavelle, the Director of Forensics and Assistant Professor of Communication Studies at the University of Northern Iowa. I am originally from Cleveland. I have been involved in competitive forensics since 1992. I participated in policy debate for eight years in high school and college. I have been coaching for 12 years, previously as Miami University (OH), Wayne State University (MI), and Augustana College (IL). I served as the Recording Secretary for the American Forensics Association Executive Council from 2010-12, and was recently elected to the Board of Directors for the International Association of Communication and Sport, where I serve as Recording Secretary.