Richard Eugene Vatz (born December 21, 1946) is an American academic, lecturer and writer who is a professor of Rhetoric and Communication at Towson University.

Vatz has appeared on CNN’s Crossfire, Larry King Live, The Phil Donahue Show, and William F. Buckley's Firing Line.

He has also appeared frequently on WBFF-TV, WMAR-TV, primarily on their talk show "Square Off" hosted by Richard Sher, Maryland Public Television, WJZ-TV, and WBAL-TV.

Over his career Vatz published in The Washington Post, The Baltimore Sun, The Los Angeles Times and multiple other publications; he wrote and writes on conservative perspectives generally.

Vatz was a blogger for Red Maryland and blogged several pieces a year on national conservative perspectives on rhetorical theory, media criticism and contemporary political issues.

In fall of 2011, the Towson Youth For Western Civilization chapter received criticism for chalking "America is a Christian Nation" on campus, but Vatz remained as the advisor.

[6] Heimbach wrote on the Youth for Western Civilization website in January 2012 that "no longer will the homosexual, Muslim, and black supremacist groups be allowed to hijack our campus," with Vatz continuing to remain the advisor.

On October 3, 2022, Michael Peroutka, far-right politician, neo-confederate, and former member of the League of the South, was invited by the Towson Turning Point chapter to speak on campus.

Students from the Towson chapter of the Young Democratic Socialists of America distributed mock programs to the event containing information about the leaked Turning Point messages and controversial quotes from Vatz from various editorials.