The field of communication is celebrating the profound contributions of Dr. Sonja K. Foss, Professor Emeritus of Communication at the University of Colorado Denver.
Dr. Foss was the founding chair of the Department of Communication at the International College Beijing in 1999.
Since joining the National Communication Association (NCA) in 1972, Dr. Foss has had a transformative impact on the discipline, solidifying her legacy through groundbreaking original research, innovative pedagogy, and commitment to inclusion and belonging. This year, Dr. Foss has been named one of several NCA Distinguished Scholars—the highest recognition in our discipline.
Decades of Dedication
Dr. Foss's esteemed career spans decades, during which she has authored 11 original books and over 70 influential articles. Among her most notable works are Rhetorical Criticism: Exploration and Practice and Feminist Rhetorical Theories, which have redefined rhetorical criticism by championing diverse voices and broadening perspectives. Through these works, Dr. Foss has shaped decades of scholarship in rhetoric.
Her introduction to the concept of invitational rhetoric marked a significant shift in how scholars understand persuasion. Rather than focusing on traditional models, Dr. Foss and her co-authors’ theory promotes inclusivity, empathy, and a dialogic approach to communication, fostering environments that prioritize mutual understanding over coercive persuasion.
A trailblazer in many aspects, Dr. Foss co-founded the Visual Communication interest group of NCA, now recognized as the Visual Communication Division. Her scholarship in the area helped visual rhetoric to emerge as a legitimate and vital area of study, vastly expanding the scope of the discipline. Her contributions have opened up new pathways for scholars to explore the intersection of visuals and communication in rhetorical contexts.
Dr. Foss has also been a beacon for students and emerging scholars. Her co-authored resource, Destination Dissertation, along with her Scholars’ Retreats, have helped countless doctoral candidates navigate the often-challenging journey of dissertation writing. Through these initiatives, she has empowered a new generation of scholars to achieve their academic goals with confidence and clarity.
An Impact Far and Wide
In addition to her scholarly work, Dr. Foss’s impact on higher education is far-reaching. She was the founding chair of the Communication Department at the International College Beijing in 1999, where she saw an opportunity to shape the study of communication abroad. Moreover, she led efforts to establish the first international chapter of Lambda Pi Eta, the NCA’s official honor society in communication at ICB. She also taught rhetorical theory and criticism at ICB and developed a travel study program to Beijing.
Dr. Foss’s exemplary contributions have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including the Douglas W. Ehninger Distinguished Rhetorical Scholar Award from the NCA in 2012 and the Western States Communication Association Distinguished Scholar Award in 2011.
Her textbooks on rhetorical theory and criticism have become bestsellers, and thousands of students in the US and abroad have benefited from her accessible and insightful approaches to rhetorical theory and criticism.
Dr. Foss’s lifetime achievements, which challenge conventional thinking and open new avenues of scholarly exploration, will remain a cornerstone in the study of communication and rhetoric, and we, at ICB and CU Denver, are lucky to count her as among our founding scholars.