Amy Mendes

Amy E. Mendes is a Lecturer in the School of Communication, Film, and Media at the University of West Georgia. She teaches across the communication curriculum, including courses in human communication, public speaking, rhetoric and social influence, small group communication, and advanced interpersonal communication. Her teaching is grounded in a strong interest in communication pedagogy, ethical AI use in the classroom, and course design that helps students develop practical, reflective communication skills. Her research interests include rhetorical theory and criticism, political performance and demagoguery, plagiarism and evidence ethics in public speaking, and small group communication pedagogy. She has published on plagiarism, exclusionary rhetoric, political rhetoric, and evidence use in speaking, and her current conference work explores AI in public speaking instruction, group communication pedagogy, and contemporary political performance. Mendes is also deeply engaged in academic service at both the university and disciplinary levels. At UWG, she serves as Faculty Council Chair in the School of Communication, Film, and Media and as a Faculty Senator. She also served as President and Conference Co-Chair of the Georgia Communication Association, where she helped lead conference growth, governance revision, and new faculty and student awards.  

  • B.A., Communication, Berry College, 1994
  • M.A., Communication Studies, West Chester University of Pennsylvania, 2010
  • Ed.D., Higher Education Administration, University of Alabama, 2023

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Mendes, A. E. (2023). Plagiarism in Persuasive Speaking: The Influence of Plagiarism Behaviors on Intercollegiate Forensics Competition. (Publication No. 30489677) [Doctoral Dissertation, University of Alabama]. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global.

Mendes, A. (2017). “What even is plagiarism?”: Measuring undergraduates’ comprehension of source attribution standards in a Public Speaking class. Proceedings. 86, Spring

Mendes, A. (2016). Digital demagogue: The critical candidacy of Donald J. Trump. Journal of Contemporary Rhetoric. 6:3/4. pp. 62-73

Mendes, A. (2016). A grounded theory of the justification of exclusion. Proceedings. 85.

Mendes, A. (2014). Abuse of evidence in persuasive speaking: an un-conventional solution. National Forensic Journal. 32. pp. 22-28