Dr. Ann Burnette

About Dr. Burnette

Dr. Burnette is a Professor of Communication Studies and Regents' Teaching Professor who teaches graduate and undergraduate classes in Political Communication, American Speeches, and Rhetorical Criticism. In 2016 the Southern States Communication Association presented her the John I. Sisco Excellence in Teaching Award. She is also the recipient of the 2015 Texas State University Presidential Award of Excellence. Dr. Burnette also has received the Texas State University Alumni Teaching Award of Honor. In addition, she has won the Presidential Distinction Award in Teaching, the College Achievement Award in Teaching, and the department’s Golden Apple Awards for undergraduate and graduate teaching. In addition, Texas State University’s Associated Student Government has also named her a Bobcat Hero.

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 2014 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.

Dr. Burnette is a past chair of the Rhetoric and Public Address Division of the Southern States Communication Association and is also active in the National Communication Association. Outside of class, Dr. Burnette helps students with their communication skills by helping them present and publish their research and by judging public speaking events. Dr. Burnette also enjoys doing voice work such as announcing.

Courses Taught

COMM 1310: Foundations of Human Communication
COMM 2338: Public Speaking
COMM 3302: Rhetorical Research Methods
COMM 4321: American Speeches
COMM 4331: Persuasion
COMM 4345: Political Communication
COMM 5302: Rhetorical Research Methods
COMM 5341: Rhetoric of Women’s Rights
COMM 5344: American Speeches
COMM 5345: Political Communication

Representative Publications

Dewberry, D. R., Burnette, A. E., Fox, R. L., & Arneson, P. (2018). Teaching free speech across the communication studies curriculum. First Amendment Studies. https://doi.org/10.1080/21689725.2018.1500930

Burnette, A. E., & Kraemer, W. L. (2020). Hispanic politicians on the rise: Argumentation strategies of Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio. In Networking argument. Abingdon, United Kingdom: Routledge.

Burnette, A. E. (2020, September 25). Review of Argumentation in Actual Practice: Topical Studies About Argumentative Discourse in Context. Argumentation. The Netherlands: Springer. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s10503-020-0953907

Burnette, A. E., & Kraemer, W. L. (n.d.). Representing or Hispandering? Beto O’Rourke, political identity, and identification. In Local Theories of Argument. Abingdon, United Kingdom: Routledge.

Burnette, A. E., & Fox, R. L. (2018). War stories: Trump’s narratives and freedom of the press. Communication Law Review, 18(1).

Recent Awards, Funding, and/or Recognition
Award / Honor Recipient: Everette Swinney Faculty Senate Excellence in Teaching Award, Texas State University Faculty Senate. 2019

Award / Honor Nominee: Minnie Stevens Piper Professor Award, Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation. 2019

Award / Honor Nominee: Regents' Teacher Award, Texas State University System. 2017

Award / Honor Recipient: Southern States Communication Association John I. Sisco Excellence in Teaching Award., Southern States Communication Association. 2016

Award / Honor Recipient: College Achievement Award for Teaching. 2015