diff --git a/lms/static/sass/_discussion.scss b/lms/static/sass/_discussion.scss
index 6c1988684e..869148a795 100644
--- a/lms/static/sass/_discussion.scss
+++ b/lms/static/sass/_discussion.scss
@@ -385,6 +385,14 @@ $tag-text-color: #5b614f;
           color: #dea03e;
         }
       }
+
+      .author-moderator:after{
+        content: " (moderator)"
+      }
+
+      .author-administrator:after{
+        content: " (administrator)"
+      }
     }
 
     .discussion-content {
@@ -410,6 +418,13 @@ $tag-text-color: #5b614f;
       }
     }
 
+    // Role based styles
+    .role-moderator{
+      background-color: #eafcfc;
+    }
+    .role-administrator{
+      background-color: #eafcea;
+    }
     //COMMENT STYLES
     .comments {
       overflow: hidden;
diff --git a/lms/templates/discussion/mustache/_content.mustache b/lms/templates/discussion/mustache/_content.mustache
index 03a9211b35..f6b375dc88 100644
--- a/lms/templates/discussion/mustache/_content.mustache
+++ b/lms/templates/discussion/mustache/_content.mustache
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-<div class="discussion-content local">
-  <div class="discussion-content-wrapper{{#content.roles}} role-{{name}}{{/content.roles}}">
+<div class="discussion-content local{{#content.roles}} role-{{name}}{{/content.roles}}">
+  <div class="discussion-content-wrapper">
     <div class="discussion-votes">
       <a class="discussion-vote discussion-vote-up" href="javascript:void(0)" value="up">&#9650;</a>
       <div class="discussion-votes-point">{{content.votes.point}}</div>
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
               anonymous
             {{/content.anonymous}}
             {{^content.anonymous}}
-              <a href="{{##url_for_user}}{{content.user_id}}{{/url_for_user}}">{{content.username}}</a>
+              <a href="{{##url_for_user}}{{content.user_id}}{{/url_for_user}}" class="{{#content.roles}}author-{{name}} {{/content.roles}}">{{content.username}}</a>
             {{/content.anonymous}}
           </div>
           <div class="show-comments-wrapper">