Biography

Dr. Bennett is an assistant professor with interests in rhetorical theory and criticism, theories of identity, social movements, and queer theory. His dissertation, which is currently being revised into a book, was named top dissertation by the Critical/Cultural Studies Division of the National Communication Association. The project focuses on the federal donor deferral policies that prohibit gay men from giving blood. Although organizations such as the FDA and Red Cross purport to secure public safety through a scrupulous deliberative process, Jeff argues these measures are substantiated by a deleterious scientific and cultural discourse which position gay men as contagions. Jeff’s work has been published in Text & Performance Quarterly, Communication and Critical/Cultural Studies, Critical Studies in Media Communication, and the Journal of Homosexuality. Three times his conference papers have received top paper honors given by NCA divisions.