Research

RHETORIC

My research areas are political rhetoric, political communications, place memory, public memory, and history performance. My thesis on presidential crisis rhetoric “9/11 Then and Now: How the Performance of Memorial Rhetoric by Presidents Changes to Construct Heroes” won USF’s 2020 Outstanding Thesis Award.

Thesis abstract:

This study is concerned with American presidential rhetoric at the cross-section of hero rhetoric and memorial address. It analyzes presidential memorialization of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. 9/11 is arguably the most significant tragedy in recent American history. The purpose of this study is to identify the type of hero each president since 9/11 has attempted to construct of himself for the public and discuss the rationale behind that hero construction. To complete this objective, I analyze the second 9/11 memorial speech from the presidencies of Bush, Obama, and Trump for hero construction. A close reading examining the rhetorical genre, historical context, and keywords reveals the following hero constructions: Bush establishes himself as the war hero who fights back aggressively against a threat; Obama establishes himself as the peacemaker hero who encourages unity and rejects hate that is a result of tragedy; Trump establishes himself as the patriotic activist hero who seeks to return America to a glorious age before the tragedy occurred and prevent future tragedies. This research fills a gap in hero rhetoric and crisis rhetoric which does not have the three presidents in conversation with each other.

LITERATURE

My main research area is Shakespeare. I am particularly interested in how Shakespeare depicts friendships (for better or worse) in his tragic plays. My research titled “All’s Fair in Love, War, and Contracts: Portia and Nerissa as Superior in The Merchant of Venice” analyzes the major relationships of The Merchant of Venice in light of Aristotle’s guidelines for friendship in Nicomachean Ethics. I am working to expand this research to include analysis through a Biblical lens in addition to Aristotle.

In addition to my study of Shakespeare, I have also conducted literary research in the following areas: Victorian literature, Irish rebellion literature, Romantic poetry, Victorian poetry, and American literature spanning from the Civil War to World War II.

CREATIVE WRITING

FICTION

My main creative area of interest is fiction. I write mostly novels as well as short stories and flash fiction. In novels, I am interested in young adult, genres including but not limited to contemporary, low fantasy, dystopian, romance, and political thriller. My emphasis is on character-driven stories. My thesis project for my MFA was a YA contemporary novel titled Thank You for Applying.

Thesis Abstract:

High school graduation is fast approaching for senior Jorie Haywood, and she’s overwhelmed by: AP exams, prom committees, musical rehearsals, and her part-time job Most important of all are college applications. Jorie has her heart set on attending the University of Florida, so when UF waitlists her, she searches desperately for a way onto the acceptance list. When her school’s musical risks cancellation due to a lack of funding, Jorie realizes she might be able to do both: if she can save the musical through an elaborate project, it might be impressive enough to change her standing with UF. What she doesn’t plan for is how her relationship with her best friend Wesley might be affected by their blossoming romantic connection and her rampant secrecy and lies.
Ultimately, Jorie must decide not just which school she will attend but what her future plans are. She has to shift her priorities for college and reconcile her teenage dreams with her new goals as a young adult. She also discovers how a lack of trust in the people closest to her leads her to deceive others, only causing pain and conflict. Jorie learns to value the important relationships in her life, whether static or evolving, as they factor into her goals for her career and her life.

DRAMA

I have also written a full-length play which will be produced at my school this spring. It is a modern-day comedic mystery titled Applause. 

Summary:

A local community theater is preparing for its latest production written by first-time playwright Harry and directed by Harry’s imposing and judgmental older sister Ivana. Tensions are already simmering due to Ivana’s casting of newcomer Clara over long-time prima donna Tiffany. When Tiffany’s diamond necklace is stolen, tensions erupt as everyone finds someone to blame. A detective hopeful in the audience is eager to solve the crime, but the zany cast members and eclectic audience members cause quite a bit of confusion. Everyone tries to figure out who the thief is, but things aren’t always as they seem.