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Pronouns:
she/her

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Education:
B.A. Philosophy and English, Texas A&M University
M.A. Mass Communication, Stephen F. Austin State University

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Field of Interest:
Rhetorical Theory, Politics, Religious Studies, and Media Studies

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Biography:
Kelsey Chapates (she/her) is a Rhetoric and Composition PhD student at the University of South Carolina, Department of English Language and Literature where she focuses on rhetorical theory. She is an instructor for the English department, teaching courses on business writing, critical reading, rhetoric, and composition. She also serves as an Assistant Director the First-Year English program. Her research interests include power dynamics and political hierarchies that extend from religious rhetoric and are upheld by modern media.

Kelsey worked for 5 years for nonprofits and in higher education as a marketing and communications professional which influence her research interests due to the direct impact this work has on social expectations and norms. She continues to work as a freelance copyeditor. Kelsey holds an M.A. in Mass Communication from Stephen F.  Austin State University, where she focused on political media and mass communication theory. She also holds a B.A. in Philosophy and English Literature from Texas A&M University and a minor in Religious Studies. During this time, she focused on Jewish Philosophy and narrative studies.