Theon Hill

Biography

Dr. Theon E. Hill serves as Associate Professor of Communication at Wheaton College, specializing in the study of African American rhetoric within the contexts of politics, social movements, religion, and popular culture. His research and teaching explore how African American rhetorical traditions shape public discourse and drive social change across these diverse spheres. Dr. Hill's scholarly work appears in a variety of respected academic journals, including Rhetoric & Public Affairs, Public Relations Review, Journal of Communication Management, Communication Quarterly, and the Journal of Communication and Religion.

Selected Publications

Selected Peer-Reviewed Articles

In-Press. "Black Loyalty and the Obama Era: A Rhetorical Critique of Bayard Rustin's Theory of Coalition Politics. Rhetoric & Public Affairs 27.4.

2024. "Introducing the Marginalized Imaged Navigation and Expression (MINE) Principles Via the Confirmation Hearings of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson." Public Relations Review 50.2 [First author with Damion Waymer]
Hill, T. E., 2016

2023. "A Conceptual Update to Image Restoration Theory (IRT) Via an Analysis of the Vice-Presidential Campaign of Kamal Harris." Public Relations Review 49.2 [Second author with Damion Waymer]

Selected Book Chapters

In-Press. "Prophets, Presidents, and Democracy." In N. Crick (Ed.), The Routledge Handbook on Rhetoric and Power. New York: Routledge.

2021. "Heed the Prophetic Voice." In R. Hart (Ed.), Fixing American Politics: Solutions for a Media Age. New York: Routledge

Education

Purdue University
Ph.D., Communication, 2013

Areas of Expertise

African American Rhetoric
Race & Ethnicity
The Obama Presidency
Political Rhetoric
Rap & Hip-Hop Culture

Courses Taught

COMM 312: Communication Criticism
COMM 454: The Rhetoric of Rap Music
COMM 454: Political Style
COMM 253: Messages, Influence, and Culture