A course on conspiracy rhetoric during Amy Whiteside’s junior year opened a world of opportunity that she had never considered before.  

Whiteside, who is now a graduate student in the Department’s M.A. program, said that in her junior year of undergraduate studies, Dr. Ryan Neville-Shepard introduced her to the world of academia, taking her under his wing through mentorship, and encouraging her to pursue graduate studies.  

Whiteside credited mentorship as a pivotal part of her academic experience, noting that, “I never would have been able to achieve what I have today in terms of conferences, awards, and publications without him. I wouldn’t have even known where to begin.” 

While she was already leaning towards attending graduate school, that decision was solidified as she attended her first conference during her senior year. There she realized she had a mentor in her corner, someone who had her back, who saw potential in her, and cared enough to help her achieve her goals.  

Whiteside said, “In moments when I am feeling overwhelmed by all the things I need to do or unsure of my abilities, Dr. Neville-Shepard is the master of pep talks, and so much of what I’ve accomplished would not have been possible without him taking the time to show me that I’m capable of it.” She added, “He’s opened doors for me that I didn’t even know existed.” 

Whiteside has earned a reputation as an award-winning scholar during her academic career within the Department of Communication. Whiteside has been awarded the Robert Bostrom Young Scholar Award from the Southern States Communication Association (2024), the Top Student Paper in Political Communication from the Southern States Communication Association (2024), the Excellence in Research Award from the Graduate-Professional Student Congress (2024), the departmental Top Graduate Student Researcher in Communication Award (2024), and the Janice Hocker Rushing Award Scholarship (2023).  

Whiteside has published one book review in Cultural Studies, as well as, one peer-reviewed publication written in collaboration with Dr. Ryan Neville-Shepard in Journal of Communication Inquiry. She also has a solo-authored essay forthcoming in Argumentation & Advocacy.  

In addition, Whiteside has given six conference presentations, including upcoming presentations at the Organization for the Study of Communication, Language, and Gender conference in October and at the National Communication Assocation conference in November. 

Dr. Rebecca Leach, graduate director in the Department of Communication, said, “Our department is lucky to have a graduate student like Amy, who exemplifies not only a passion for research but also a spirit of collaboration. In addition, this is yet another example of how our faculty are committed to providing students with high-impact practices by encouraging them to conduct research, publish, and present at national conferences.”  

Written by Lacie Bryles, marketing and programs specialist and Dr. Matthew Spialek, associate professor and department chair

Photo by Lacie Bryles, marketing and programs specialist