Congratulations to Tairen Fenhoff

2026 Dean’s Prize for Outstanding Research

Tairen Fenhoff: Examining the rhetoric of enemyship

Tairen Fenhoff, a double Major in Spanish and Communication Studies, completed Honors Program in both majors. As part of the Communication Studies Honors Program, she examined how perceived enemies were constructed through presidential campaign rally rhetoric during the closing stages of the 2024 election. 

“It has been really encouraging for me to receive the Dean’s Prize for my work,” Fenhoff said. “At times, it was exhausting to deal with the heavier topics that I explored in my thesis and it’s nice to know that my efforts were not in vain.”

Fenhoff plans to continue at UNC Charlotte in the Master of Arts in Communication Studies program, where she hopes to expand her research into the social sciences and further explore how rhetoric shapes how people understand the world around them.

“During my years at UNC Charlotte, I was generously given close mentorship within my thesis programs and assistantships, which prepared me to do research that I am truly proud of […],” Fenhoff said. “I am immensely grateful for the guidance I received during my undergraduate years and I look forward to continuing this journey in my graduate program.”