Jules WightFaculty

I am pleased to serve as a Visiting Instructor in Communication Studies at Gustavus, where I blend critical pedagogy with my diverse research interests to enrich each student's learning experience. My teaching philosophy is centered on fostering critical and reflexive engagement and extends across he spectrum of Communication Studies, from rhetorical criticism and political economy of media to cultural studies and narrative analysis.

Specializing in critical media studies and rhetoric, my academic focus encompasses visual communication, emerging media, and public discourse, with a strongly focused interest in social justice and community advocacy. My research delves into the intersections of media and war, media history, political communication, and representations of race, ethnicity, and LGBTQ issues in media. The work I do is largely underpinned by poststructuralist and queer theory frameworks.

As a feminist and LGBTQ scholar, I am deeply invested in exploring the dynamics of power and identity in mediated, political, intercultural, and interpersonal communication. My professional background in strategic communication, including marketing, advertising, publication development, and photography, further enriches my approach to teaching and research. At the University of Minnesota, where I completed my PhD in Communication Studies, I guided students through critical examinations of media literacy, globalization, and media industry dynamics, offering comprehensive insights into visual media, public speaking, and media history.

Courses Taught