Shelby Limbach

She/Her

Communication Studies

294 Ford Hall

224 Church St SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455

Collegiate Affiliation

Shelby Limbach, M.S. (she/her) is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Minnesota—Twin Cities where she focuses on political rhetoric and LGBTQIA+ issues. Often her work centers on the rhetorical boundaries created and challenged by the existence of non-heteropatriarchal identities and how that relates to the creation of community and citizenship.

Educational Background & Specialties

Open Close

Educational Background

M.S.: Communication, Illinois State University
B.A.: Communication Studies and Political Science, Augustana College

Specialties

Rhetorical Studies
Media Studies

Activities

Open Close

Activities

Research

Conference Presentation (Research in Progress): Lesbian avengers and the call for a visible lesbian identity. In The stories we tell: Identities, counter-narratives, and translations [Extended Abstract Panel]. Sponsored by the Rhetoric Society of America at the 22nd Biannual Conference in Portland, OR, USA. May 2026
Individual Paper Conference Presentation: The lesbian avengers and the call for a visible lesbian identity. In Stephanie Young’s (Chair) Scholarship on advocacy, visibility, and identity [Paper Session]. Sponsored by the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Caucus at the Central States Communication Association’s Conference in Minneapolis, MN, USA. April 2026
Individual Paper Conference Presentation: "A rupture in the narrative." In Elevating argumentation and stories: Rhetorical and narrative political strategies [Paper Session]. Sponsored by the Political Communication Division at the National Communication Association Conference in Denver, CO, USA. November 2025
Individual Paper Conference Presentation: "Where did the lesbian bars go?: Navigating identity in “queer” spaces." In Queer and Feminist Horizons [Paper Presentation]. Sponsored by the Organization for Feminist Research on Gender Communication at the Western States Communication Association Conference in Albuquerque, NM, USA. February 2025
Conference Presentation: What is resistance for greater regard?: Mundane and memorable moments of critical academics [Discussion Panel]. Sponsored by the Critical and Cultural Studies Division at the National Communication Association Conference in New Orleans, LA, USA. November 2024
Individual Paper Conference Presentation: "Don’t say gay: Hyperpolarized usage of ultimate terms in HB: 1557." In The rhetoric of revolution, rage, and remembrance [Paper Presentation]. Sponsored by the Political Communication Division at the National Communication Conference in New Orleans, LA, USA. November 2024
Individual Paper Conference Presentation: Moms for Liberty: The creation of a disingenuous social movement. In Contemporary issues in argumentation: T-Swift, Moms for Liberty, and more [Paper Presentation]. Sponsored by the Argumentation and Forensics Division at the National Communication Association Conference in New Orleans, LA, USA. November 2024
Conference Presentation: Freedom from allonormativity: A roundtable discussion centering asexualities and aromatics in communication research, teaching, and praxis [Discussion Panel]. Sponsored by the Caucus on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Concerns at the National Communication Association Conference in National Harbor, MD, USA. November 2023
Individual Paper Conference Presentation: “We’re sharing the goal of making us all better”: Identity representations in Abbott Elementary." In Existing on the margins: Representations of historically silenced identities in pop culture [Paper Presentation]. Sponsored by the Popular Culture Interest Group at the Central States Communication Association Conference in St. Louis, MO, USA. April 2023

Professional

RSA Research Network Forum: Rhetoric Society for America’s Research Network Forum [Research in Progress]. Rhetoric Society for America’s 22nd Biannual Conference in Portland, OR, USA. May 2026
Writing Workshop: Midwest Winter Writers Workshop. Indiana University Bloomington, IN, USA. February 2026
Reviewer for Rhetoric Society of America: Reviewer for the 2026 Conference "Rhetorical In/Dignities". Fall 2025
Reviewer for the National Communication Association: Rhetorical and Communication Theory Division; Critical Cultural Studies Division; Caucus on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Concerns; Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Communication Studies Division. Spring 2023-Present
Secretary - Student Section: Secretary for the Student Section of the National Communication Association. Fall 2024-Fall 2025
Writing Workshop: Borders and Crossroads: 4th Biennial International Rhetoric Workshop. University of Dubrovnik in Dubrovnik, Croatia. June 2024
Writing Workshop: Midwest Winter Writers Workshop. University of Wisconsin in Madison, WI, USA. February 2024

Outreach

Organizing Committee (Graduate Student Organizer): International Rhetoric Workshop. Spring 2025-Summer 2026
Communication Studies Graduate Students Association – Secretary: Department of Communication Studies, University of Minnesota. Fall 2024-Spring 2025
PhD Peer Mentor: Communication Studies Graduate Student Association (CSGSA), University of Minnesota. Fall 2024-Spring 2026
Graduate Student Planner: Karlyn Kohrs Campbell Speaker Series, University of Minnesota. Fall 2025
Inaugural New Student Orientation Planner and Facilitator: Department of Communication Studies, University of Minnesota. Fall 2024
Graduate Student Planning Committee: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Pedagogy Symposium, University of Minnesota. Spring 2024
Peer Mentor (Graduate Student Teaching): Peer Mentor for Communication Basic Course Instructors, Illinois State University. Fall 2022-Spring 2023

Awards

Open Close

Awards

Graduate Student Scholarship Award, Communication Studies Department, The Graduate Student Scholarship Award, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Awarded September 2025
Illinois State University’s Graduate School Three Minute Thesis Competition, School of Communication Finalist; College of Arts and Sciences Preliminary Finalist and People’s Choice Award Winner, February 2023

Courses

Open Close

Courses

COMM 3601 Introduction to Rhetorical Theory (Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Minnesota) (Spring 2025-Spring 2026)
COMM 3636W Famous Speeches (Instructor of Record, University of Minnesota) (Fall 2025)
COMM 1313W Analysis of Argumentation (Instructor of Record, University of Minnesota) (Fall 2024-Spring 2025)
COMM 3211 Introduction to Media Studies (Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Minnesota) (Fall 2024)
COMM 1101 Public Speaking (Instructor of Record, University of Minnesota) (Fall 2023-Spring 2024)
COM 110 Communication as Critical Inquiry (Instructor on Record, Illinois State University) (Fall 2021-Spring 2023)