Biography: 
Dr. Brendan Kelly, also the Director of the School of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts, has led the Department of Communication Arts at the University of West Florida as the Department Chair since 2009. He earned his B.S. in Public Relations and M.A. in Communication from Eastern Michigan University, and Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Political Communication from Wayne State University in Detroit.

A faculty member in the Department of Communication Arts since 2004, Kelly serves as the director of the nationally recognized UWF Speech and Debate program, and specializes in speech communication training. He teaches courses in political communication, speech communication, rhetoric, communication ethics and various areas related to strategic communication.

Dr. Kelly's scholarship and research concentrates on political campaign communication, presidential rhetoric, as well as communication pedagogy and training.

Since arriving at UWF, Kelly has been recognized through multiple honors including: the UWF Distinguished Teaching Award; induction into the National Forensic Association Hall of Fame; Eastern Michigan University Outstanding Young Alumnus Award; induction into the Eastern Michigan University Forensics Hall of Fame; and the UWF Faculty Excellence award in Student Affairs. Additionally, Kelly currently serves as the National Tournament Director for the National Forensic Association and the Chair of the Argumentation and Forensics Division of the National Communication Association.