Ryan Skinnell is an associate professor of rhetoric and writing in the Department of English and Comparative Literature. His work focuses primarily on public rhetoric—how politicians, public figures, and average citizens use persuasive language to influence public policy. Dr. Skinnell is the author or editor of five books, including “Conceding Composition: A Crooked History of Composition’s Institutional Fortunes” (Utah State University Press, 2016) and “Faking the News: What Rhetoric Can Teach Us About Donald J. Trump,” (Societas, 2018). He has also published numerous essays in academic and popular outlets on rhetoric, writing education, political speech, fascism, and demagoguery. He holds a bachelor’s degree in english from the University of California, Santa Barbara, a master’s degree in english from California State University, Northridge and a doctoral degree in rhetoric, composition, and linguistics from Arizona State University.