Sewanee Rhetoric students and faculty are award-winning scholars, teachers, mentors, and leaders!
Student Awards
Regional Awards and Honors
- 2018: Franklin Shirley Award for Outstanding Paper, Theodore Clevenger Undergraduate Honors Conference, ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵern States Communication Association, William H. Merriman
University Awards and Honors
- 2026: Dean's Scholar, Eliza Gregory Dieck (major)
Department Awards (Judith Ward Lineback Award)
For high academic achievement and demonstrated excellence in citizenship, scholarship,
and rhetoric
- 2026: Mary Webster Burke (major)
- 2026: Eliza Gregory Dieck (major)
Phi Beta Kappa
- 2026: Mary Webster Burke (major)
- 2024: Sophia Lawrence Burr (minor)
- 2024: Ruth Alexander Lunsford (minor)
Faculty Awards
National Awards and Honors
- 2020-21: National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Research Fellowship, Dr. Sean Patrick O'Rourke
Regional Awards and Honors
- 2020: J. Donald Ragsdale Award for Excellence in Mentorship, ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵern States Communication Association, Dr. Sean Patrick O'Rourke
- 2018: Gender Studies Scholar of the Year Award, ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵern States Communication Association, Dr. Jamie Capuzza
- 2018: Dwight L. Freshley Early Career Excellence in Teaching Award, ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵern States Communication Association, Dr. Melody Lehn
- 2016: Outreach Award for Facilitating the Success and Access of Under-Represented Populations, ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵern States Communication Association, Dr. Sean Patrick O'Rourke
University Awards, Fellowships, and Honors
- 2025-26: Community Engagement Faculty Fellowship, Dr. Melody Lehn
- 2021: Excellence in Research Award, Dr. Sean O'Rourke
- 2019: Excellence in Teaching Award, Dr. Melody Lehn
