Dr. Mary Hoffman
B.A. Winona State University, 1991;
M.A. Colorado State University, 1993;
Ph.D. University of Kansas, 2000.
Office Location: Centennial Hall 312
Office Phone: 512-245-2222
About Dr. Hoffman
Dr. Hoffman is Associate Professor and Graduate Director in the Department of Communication Studies. Her teaching and research interests are rhetorical theory and criticism and organizational communication. Her particular area of interest is organizational rhetoric, or the study of how organizations craft messages for a variety of internal and external audiences. Her work on organizational communication in a community of Benedictine sisters has appeared in Communication Studies and Western Journal of Communication. Recent research has focused on how individuals and organizations construct perceptions of work-life balance through communication.
Sample of Courses Taught
COMM 3302 Rhetorical Criticism
Exploration of public, persuasive messages through application of the process of critical analysis. Focuses on developing the student's analytical, research, and writing skills and prepares the student to understand the influence of rhetorical discourse in political and social contexts. Prerequisite: 6 hours COMM. (WI)
COMM 3319 Organizational Communication
(3-0) Examines contemporary research about the influence of communication on the organization. Prepares the student to understand and manage communication processes in organizations. Prerequisite: 6 hours COMM.
COMM 4317G Organizational Rhetoric
Exploration of the strategic use of symbols by organizations to influence the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of audiences important to the operation of those organizations. Examination of how organizations use symbols to accomplish a variety of functions for internal and external audiences. Students both analyze and create organizational messages.
COMM 5323 Rhetorical Methods
A study of approaches to the analysis of public discourse directed toward establishing workable perspectives for students conducting rhetorical analysis. Required of speech communication majors.
COMM 5343 Seminar in Organizational Rhetoric
The study of the strategic use of symbols by organizations to influence the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of audiences important to the operation of those organizations. Students in this course examine a range of organizational texts using a variety of rhetorical methods.
Dr. Hoffman is Associate Professor and Graduate Director in the Department of Communication Studies. Her teaching and research interests are rhetorical theory and criticism and organizational communication. Her particular area of interest is organizational rhetoric, or the study of how organizations craft messages for a variety of internal and external audiences. Her work on organizational communication in a community of Benedictine sisters has appeared in Communication Studies and Western Journal of Communication. Recent research has focused on how individuals and organizations construct perceptions of work-life balance through communication.
Sample of Courses Taught
COMM 3302 Rhetorical Criticism
Exploration of public, persuasive messages through application of the process of critical analysis. Focuses on developing the student's analytical, research, and writing skills and prepares the student to understand the influence of rhetorical discourse in political and social contexts. Prerequisite: 6 hours COMM. (WI)
COMM 3319 Organizational Communication
(3-0) Examines contemporary research about the influence of communication on the organization. Prepares the student to understand and manage communication processes in organizations. Prerequisite: 6 hours COMM.
COMM 4317G Organizational Rhetoric
Exploration of the strategic use of symbols by organizations to influence the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of audiences important to the operation of those organizations. Examination of how organizations use symbols to accomplish a variety of functions for internal and external audiences. Students both analyze and create organizational messages.
COMM 5323 Rhetorical Methods
A study of approaches to the analysis of public discourse directed toward establishing workable perspectives for students conducting rhetorical analysis. Required of speech communication majors.
COMM 5343 Seminar in Organizational Rhetoric
The study of the strategic use of symbols by organizations to influence the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of audiences important to the operation of those organizations. Students in this course examine a range of organizational texts using a variety of rhetorical methods.