Dr. Steven Melling is interested in the rhetoric of outspoken public figures. He has published research on Sarah Palin and Donald Trump. In 2019, he received a Top Paper award at the conference of the Central States Communication Association for an essay on the rhetoric of futurism.
Melling holds Ph.D. and M.A. degrees in Communication Studies from the University of Kansas. Dr. Melling has taught courses in rhetoric, persuasion, communication theory, and public speaking at UMKC. He also serves as Director of the Bachelor of Liberal Arts Program and the director of the general education courses in Oral Communication.