Meet the Author

Dr. Angela McGowan-Kirsch is an Associate Professor of Communication at SUNY Fredonia, where she specializes in rhetoric, communication, and leadership, media literacy, and students’ democratic engagement. She serves as Chair of Fredonia’s American Democracy Project Committee, leads Fredonia’s Civic Discourse General Education Competency Task Force, and coordinates the Leadership Studies minor. Through these roles, she advances campus-wide initiatives that promote informed, ethical, and inclusive participation in civic life.

Dr. McGowan-Kirsch’s scholarship focuses on college students’ democratic engagement, public discourse, and the pedagogical practices that foster civil dialogue amid polarization. She is a 2025-2026 SUNY Civil Discourse and Civic Education & Engagement Fellow and the editor of the volume Encouraging College Students’ Democratic Engagement in an Era of Political Polarization (Lexington Publishing, 2025). Her work appears in publications addressing media literacy, open pedagogy, and student-centered learning, highlighting her commitment to helping educators design accessible, empowering, and transformative learning experiences.

At SUNY Fredonia, Dr. McGowan-Kirsch teaches courses in political communication, civic engagement, public speaking, and leadership. She guides students in applying classroom concepts to real-world contexts, including partnerships with local nonprofits and community organizations. She also mentors student interns across Communication, Leadership Studies, and interdisciplinary programs, helping them develop professional competencies grounded in civic responsibility and ethical communication.

A recipient of the 2023 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, Dr. McGowan-Kirsch is known for integrating innovative, student-centered approaches that strengthen civic discourse both online and in person. Through her teaching, research, and service, she advances civic education across the SUNY system. She contributes to national conversations about preparing students to engage thoughtfully, respectfully, and effectively in democratic life.