Speaking Center Director & Staff
Dr. Anand Rao – Speaking Center Director
Dr. Anand Rao, Speaking Intensive Program and Speaking Center Director Anand received his Bachelors degree in philosophy from the University of Pittsburgh in 1992. Following his interest in the history and philosophy of science, he entered the Rhetoric of Science program at the University of Pittsburgh, where he earned a Masters of Arts in 1994, and a Ph.D. in rhetoric and communication in 1996. In 1995, Anand joined Clarion University as an assistant professor in the Department of Speech Communication and Theatre, where he also served as director of the speech & debate team. While at Clarion, Anand started an active public debate series and moved the speech and debate team back into the more competitive and challenging format of policy debate. He was tenured and promoted to associate professor in 2000, and served as chair of the Faculty Senate in 2001. In 2002, Anand joined the faculty at Mary Washington as an associate professor and Director of the Speaking Intensive Program. Excited to be a part of the Mary Washington community, Anand enjoys working with UMW students and faculty, and looks forward to working with the SI program. Anand’s areas of specialty in communication studies include visual rhetoric, argumentation, rhetorical criticism, rhetorical studies of science and public address. He teaches a variety of courses in speech, including public speaking, small group communication, argumentation, and upper-level courses in communication and rhetorical theory, including Environmental Rhetoric, Visual Rhetoric, and Intellectual Foundations of Communication.