Biography
Dr. Burnette is a Minnie Stevens Piper Professor and Regents' Teacher in the Department of Communication Studies. She teaches graduate and undergraduate classes in Political Communication, American Speeches, and Rhetorical Criticism. Dr. Burnette's B.A. and M.A. are from the University of Virginia and her Ph.D. is from Northwestern University. The Southern States Communication Association presented her the John I. Sisco Excellence in Teaching Award. She is also the recipient of the Texas State University Presidential Award of Excellence and the Texas State University Alumni Teaching Award of Honor. Dr. Burnette has served as the President of the Southern States Communication Association.
Research Interests
Dr. Burnette’s research interests include political campaign rhetoric, the construction of gender in public discourse, historical political debates, and freedom of speech issues. She received the Southern States Communication Association James Madison Prize for Outstanding Research in First Amendment Studies for her article co-authored with Dr. Rebekah Fox, “Reframing Corporations as Individuals: The ‘Persuasive Marvels’ Unleashed by the Citizens United Ruling,” which appeared in First Amendment Studies. Dr. Burnette’s essay with Wayne Kraemer, “Communicating a Rationale for War: George W. Bush and the Rhetoric of Imperial Righteousness,” is included with the research of historians and political scientists in The George W. Bush Presidency. She has also published book chapters and articles in international and national publications such as the Journal of Argumentation in Context, and the Journal of Contemporary Rhetoric.