The Department of Communication & Rhetorical Studies graduate students are teacher-scholars and leaders within our field, following the example set by the faculty to pursue academic excellence in the domains of scholarship, teaching, and service.

Award types

Since 2012, our department has recognized exemplary graduate student scholars with the Wilhelm S. Wurzer Scholarship Award.

Wilhelm Wurzer, Ph.D., served the Department of Communication & Rhetorical Studies by teaching seminar courses in the Rhetoric Ph.D. program core. Professor of Philosophy and chair of the Philosophy Department at Duquesne for 35 years, Dr. Wurzer was a world-renowned scholar of 20th century continental philosophy. A great colleague and friend of the department, Dr. Wurzer was instrumental in advancing the intellectual rigor and national scholarly reputation of the Rhetoric Ph.D. program. He was also a key collaborator in forging stronger ties between philosophy and rhetoric at Duquesne. His contagious love for learning propelled him through a three-year battle against cancer in which he continued faithfully to teach graduate seminars and invite students into serious engagement with the precursors to and primary texts of continental thought. He cared for ideas and excelled as a scholar.
Since 2011, our department has recognized exemplary graduate student teachers with the Richard H. Thames Teaching Award.
Since 2013, our department has recognized exemplary graduate student service with the D. Clark Edwards Service Award.

Clark Edwards, Ph.D., served on the faculty of the Department of Communication & Rhetorical Studies for over 20 years. Dr. Edwards, a combat veteran in the Vietnam War who went on to work in broadcast journalism prior to his academic career, earned his doctorate in Political Science. In the department's early years, Dr. Edwards taught journalism and served as faculty advisor to the Duquesne Duke. He led a number of formative initiatives in the department's growth and was a staunch defender of the good, most notably in cases that involved no personal benefit or advancement. He worked hard in the trenches of every unit with which he served, faithfully speaking hard truths when others remained silent. Dr. Edwards remained vigorous and insightful to the last, retiring less than a year before he died, having shaped and advanced the mission of the department and Duquesne University. He served well.

Contact for more info

Department of Communication & Rhetorical Studies