Quinnipiac University
Adam David Roth

Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences

Adam David Roth is a transformative leader, team builder, and dedicated advocate for the liberal arts. His research expertise spans rhetorical theory and criticism, persuasion and society, communication studies, and the rhetoric of science. He has delivered presentations on the central role of rhetoric in the evolution of Western medicine across the U.S. and internationally, in countries such as Greece, Cyprus, Russia, and China. Roth's research has been published in English, Russian, and Greek in academic journals, including Journal of Philosophy and History of Education, Intercultural Communication Studies, Basic Course Communication Annual, Akropolis: Journal of Hellenic Studies, and China Media Research. He also co-edited The Philosophy of Aristotle: The Proceedings of the World Congress of Philosophy 2016, vol. I, and served as guest editor of a special issue of Journal of Intercultural Communication Studies. Roth is the lead author of the 10th edition of Thinking Through Communication: An Introduction to the Study of Human Communication, which will be released in early 2025.

As an acclaimed scholar and educator, Roth has earned numerous prestigious honors, including the Douglas Ehninger Award for Teaching, the University of Iowa Outstanding Teaching Award, the Rabbi Benjamin Marcus Award for Most Supportive Faculty, and the Harrington School of Communication and Media Founding Scholar Award.

Throughout his career, Roth has championed interdisciplinary programs and collaborative strategic initiatives. He began his administrative journey as director of the Communication Across the Curriculum program at the University of Pittsburgh in 2006-07. From 2007 to 2021, he held a range of leadership roles at the University of Rhode Island, including communication course director for the general education program, director of the Harrington School of Communication and Media, and associate dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. Roth was appointed Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at Quinnipiac University in 2021.

Under his leadership at Quinnipiac, Roth has secured almost $3 million in philanthropic support, fueling innovative curricula and facilities, scholarships, and key initiatives such as diversity, equity, and inclusion, experiential learning, and study abroad. Across his career, Roth has raised over $20 million in total through his fundraising efforts at both public and private institutions, bringing together corporate sponsors, foundation grants, and private donations from alumni, advisory boards, parents, and other key stakeholders.

Roth's academic credentials include a bachelor's degree in communication and rhetoric and business administration from the University of Pittsburgh, a master's degree and Ph.D. in communication studies and rhetoric from the University of Iowa, and a graduate certificate in interdisciplinary inquiry. He also completed Harvard University's Management Development Program and holds an MBA from Quinnipiac University.

Education

  • BA, University of Pittsburgh
  • MA, Univ. of Iowa
  • MBA, Quinnipiac University
  • PHD, Univ. of Iowa

Organization

  • College of Arts and Sciences

Office Location

  • College of Arts & Sciences 1

Mail Drop

  • CL-AC1