Exploring the Rhetorical and Agentive Functions of Scholarly Biosketches in Academic Self-Representation

This study explores the rhetorical and agentive functions of scholarly biosketches as commonly accepted forms of academic self-representation. Biosketches, often included on professional websites, academic conference programs, and institutional profiles, extend beyond factual descriptions to function as rhetorical tools for shaping identity within institutional and disciplinary contexts. Grounded in rhetorical agency, this study investigates how scholars—particularly those in writing studies—use biosketches to negotiate identity and social values in academia. To examine these dynamics, the study employs a survey method to analyze scholars’ attitudes toward biosketches, their motivations for rhetorical choices, and factors that shape their self-representation. The study highlights how scholars navigate disciplinary norms, institutional expectations, and broader sociopolitical concerns through their biosketches, contributing to ongoing conversations about professional identity in academia.