The Department of Communication will host a Celebration of Research to honor Professor Lester C. Olson’s many contributions to the field. For over four decades, Professor Olson has been a dedicated scholar, teacher, and advocate, leaving a lasting impact through his research in visual rhetoric and commitment to human rights. This event recognizes his years of intellectual leadership and dedication to the pursuit of knowledge and justice.
Holding a secondary appointment in the Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies Program, Professor Olson’s work has transcended traditional academic boundaries. His affiliations with the Cultural Studies and Global Studies Programs have further enriched interdisciplinary scholarship, fostering a broad and impactful intellectual legacy.
Specializing in visual rhetoric, human rights rhetoric, and public address, Professor Olson’s research has examined critical issues ranging from the devastating consequences of hate-motivated violence to the rhetorical dimensions of human rights discourses during the AIDS pandemic. His scholarship has consistently reflected a deep commitment to social justice.
His contributions to communication studies include in-depth analyses of language, symbolism, and advocacy in human rights and other discourse. From his early work amplifying marginalized voices to his more recent research on poet and activist Audre Lorde, he has continually pushed the boundaries of rhetorical inquiry.
Among his notable publications are award-winning books such as Emblems of American Community in the Revolutionary Era and Benjamin Franklin’s Vision of American Community, both of which highlight his expertise in rhetorical iconography. His co-edited volume, Human Rights Rhetoric: Traditions of Testifying and Witnessing, underscores his enduring commitment to social change and justice.
A Chancellor’s Distinguished Teacher, Professor Olson has profoundly influenced generations of students. His undergraduate courses and graduate seminars on Human Rights Rhetoric and Visual Rhetoric have equipped students to critically engage with pressing social issues and become advocates for equity and justice. He chaired 17 dissertation committees and served on many more, leaving a lasting impact on the academic community.
Recognized as a Fellow of the Rhetoric Society of America since 2016, Professor Olson received the association’s highest honor for “sustained and distinguished scholarship, teaching, and service to the field of rhetorical studies.”
At the University of Pittsburgh, he served two four-year terms as Chair of the Department of Communication (2014–2022), guiding the department through a period of transformation. Notably, he oversaw a $4 million office relocation and renovation on the 14th floor of the Cathedral of Learning, working closely with Facilities Management to modernize the department’s infrastructure.
His service to the university extended far beyond his department. For example, he represented the Communication Department on the Humanities Council, served on the Tenure Council for 19 years and contributed to the Provost’s Faculty Diversity Seminar Advisory Committee for eight years.
To honor Professor Olson’s legacy and decades of dedication to education and social justice, the Department of Communication will host a Celebration of Research at the Cathedral of Learning, Room 602 CL on April 4, 3:00 pm.