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Alumni Student Grace Larner

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Grace Larner has accepted a technical communication position with Tesla in Austin TX.

Dr. Williams CCCC Technical and Scientific Communication Award

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  • MATC Alumni Gayle Davidson has accepted a Usability Experience (UX) Writer position at Thomson Reuters in Austin, Texas.

    MATC Alumni Kimberly Jeske has accepted the Director of Product Content position at Cloudflare in Austin, Texas.

    MATC Alumni Michael Trice’s co-edited book Platforms, Protests, and the Challenge of Networked Democracy was published on July 8, 2020 by Palgrave MacMillan. Michael is a lecturer at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the Writing, Rhetoric, and Professional Communication Program. 

    MATC student Ashley Ford was appointed Deputy Director of Public Policy and Advocacy for The Arc of Texas, a nonprofit organization that advocates for the human rights and self-determination of Texans with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

    MATC Alumni Meghalee Das was awarded the Outstanding Instructor Award in First-Year Composition in the category of 1st Year Ph.D. Instructor by Texas Tech University's Department of English. Meghalee is enrolled in the PhD in Technical Communication and Rhetoric Program at Texas Tech.  

    MATC Alumni (2004), Amber Rigney started a new position as Vice President of Publishing at Paxen Publishing 

    MATC student Cristian Hernandez accepted a position as Technical Writer at IBM in Austin, Texas.

  • MATC graduate and Senior Lecturer Amanda Scott’s essay "Room with Bright Window" will be published in Crab Orchard Review this fall. Her article, “Cultivating Activist-Based Pedagogy in the Age of Generation Z,” will appear in Cuentos & Testimonies: Diversity and Inclusion at Texas State (an anthology edited by Miriam Williams and Octavio Pimentel) later this fall; she’ll present the article at the Decolonizing Conference to be sponsored by the University of Toronto’s Center for Integrative Anti-Racism Studies this November.
    MATC alumna Brooke Turner is co-founder and CMO of Kwaddle, an Austin-based company described as,"an online platform that provides access to high quality, out-of-school education and enrichment programs to help children thrive and reach their fullest potential. " Brooke was recently recognized by Austin Woman magazine as a 2018 Woman's Way Business Awards Finalist for Product Innovation. 

    MATC alumna Amber Rigney accepted a position as Chief Publishing Officer at Paxen Publishing in Melbourne, Florida. Amber provides strategic direction and leadership of Paxen Publishing's library as well as the newly acquired Steck-Vaughn adult education library and SkillsTutor. She also manages content development of print and digital adult education products.

    MATC student Sarah Holdgrafer was recently promoted to Manager of the Self-Service & Content Team at ShipStation in Austin, Texas. Sarah and her team are responsible for all user-facing help documentation and internal support training. 
    MATC alumna Amanda Scott recently presented a panel titled “Matters of Form: Questions of Race, Identity, Design, and the U.S. Census” at the annual Association of Teachers of Technical Writing conference in Kansas City, Kansas." 

  • MATC alumna Dr. Susan Rauch has accepted an appointment as a Lecturer in Professional Writing in Science Communication & Technology at Massey University School of English and Media Studies, Palmerston North, New Zealand. Susan will teach, manage tutors in the writing for science communication and technology course curriculum, and redesign the writing for science communication course curriculum.

    MATC alumnus Chase Rogers been hired as an Instructional Designer with Whole Foods Market 365, a brand created to make natural food groceries more accessible to all shoppers.
    MATC alumna Swati Sahi accepted a writing instructor position at Purdue University Northwest in Hammond, Indiana.
    MATC alumna Jennifer Cleveland has accepted a position as Business Analysis Coordinator with Sprint Accessibility. She will provide communication support for deaf and hard-of-hearing employees, and assist with proposal management and RFP (request for proposal) processes.
    MATC alumni now hold the following positions in Texas State's IT and University Marketing departments: Jennifer Small (User Service Consultant II, IT Assistance Center), Jenny Joy Van De Walle (Program Specialist – Technical Writer, IT Assistance Center), Jennifer Johnson (Coordinator, IT Projects – Technology Resources Administration), and Jen LaGrange (Coordinator, IT Projects – IT Assistance Center).
    MATC alumnus Jael Perales has been hired as an Academic Editor for the American Journal Experts Division of Research Square, a for-benefit company that helps researchers around the world get their work effectively communicated and published.
    MATC student Jonathan Prichard has accepted a Peace Corps assignment in Ecuador, beginning in May. He will serve as a health extension volunteer, a position similar to a community health organizer.
    MATC student Rachel Berryhill will present "Sex Symbols and Subject Matter Experts: The Role of Females in a Military Comic Book” at the Southwest Popular/American Culture Association’s 38th Annual Conference, held in February, 2017 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
    MATC alumna Jo Jarl – one of the first two graduates of the MATC program, in 2001 – has retired after 13 years as a tech writer and editor for IBM and IBM Tivoli.

  • MATC alumna Susan Rauch successfully defended her dissertation in May 2016. Susan completed doctoral studies in Texas Tech University's Technical Communication & Rhetoric Program. Her dissertation title is "Rhetoric and Economics of User Attention in e-Health: How Technology Influences Clinicians’ Decision Making in EHR Clinical Documentation."  Susan began work as a full-time instructor in Texas Tech University's English Department in the fall.

    MATC alumnus David Hernandez has accepted a position with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission's Office of Social Services, in Austin. David will help implement a Leadership and Professional Development Program, analyze federal and state policies to determine changes to the Electronic Benefit Transfer program, and propose revisions to the Texas Administrative Code.

    The Society for Technical Communication (STC) Board of Directors passed a motion to create a Texas State University student chapter of STC.  MATC student and Graduate Assistant David Hernandez submitted the application, recruited student members, and serves as President of the Texas State University Student Chapter of STC.

    Congratulations go out to Swati Sahi who is the recipient of the 2016 Ione Dodson Young Scholarship awarded by the English Department.

    MATC student Amanda Scott presented "Sense and Sexuality: Using Creative Nonfiction Flash to Examine Memory, Trauma, and Identity" at the Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association (PCA/ACA) conference, which recently took place in Seattle.

    Amanda also presented "Reconciling Hybridity: Towards a More Inclusive Understanding of Biracial Identity in Technical Communication" at the Association for Teachers of Technical Writing Conference, held on April 6 in Houston.

    MATC student Kristen Sacky has accepted a position on the Order Management team at Google Inc., in Austin, Texas. Kristen will be responsible for helping clients implement Google software applications in business environments.
    Derek MATC alumnus Derek Holden accepted a position as Content Administrator at Game Stop Inc.  Derek's duties will include creating and managing web content for Game Stop's international ThinkGeek brand.

     

    MATC alumnus Dr. Travis Irby serves as Instructional Designer in Texas State University's Office of Distance and Extended Learning. His areas of emphasis include self-paced studies and course production.

  • Whitney MATC alumna Whitney Lacey has accepted a position as a Content Specialist at Electronic Arts Inc. (EA) in Austin, Texas.  EA develops and publishes EA Sports titles, The Sims, and many other popular videos games. Whitney will write HELP articles and documentation to support EA games.
    Emily MATC student Emily Clark, this year’s Outstanding Graduate Student in English, has accepted a position at Schneider Electric as a technical writer. Emily will write documentation for tollway system software and hardware.
    The English Department was well represented at the national Pop Culture Association / American Culture Association meeting held recently in New Orleans. MATC student Amanda Scott presented "'Shorty Wanna Be a Thug': The Dynamics of Gender in Rap Groups."
    Alexandra MATC alumna Alexandra Podwalny has accepted the Communications Executive position at Mercom Capital Group in Austin, Texas. Alexandra graduated from the MATC program in fall 2014.
    Deb Balzhiser's article, "Participatory Media & Culture: The Spirit of the Human," written with Caroline Jones and former MATC students Julie Good and Tate English, appears in the latest issue of Technoculture.
    MATC student Heath Hamilton has accepted a technical writing position at Polycom, Inc. in Austin, Texas.
    Emmelyn MATC alumna Emmelyn Wang has accepted a position as Director of Web Product Marketing at Mouser Electronics in Mansfield, Texas. Mouser Electronics is an authorized distributor of semiconductor and electronic components for over 500 industry-leading suppliers.
    Eric MATC student Derek Holden has accepted a position as an editorial assistant in the Office of Distance and Extended Learning at Texas State University.
    Eric MATC Student and GRA Eric Hall has accepted a position as a Research Engineering/Scientist Associate I at the University of Texas at Austin's Applied Research Laboratories. Eric will prepare and present technical documentation of software processes, training materials, and operational and test procedures for high frequency active sonar systems deployed on United States Navy submarines and ships.
    MATC students Danielle McEwen and Joel Ritch received Summer Incentive Scholarships from the Graduate College.
    Chelsea MATC graduate Chelsea Wunneburger has accepted a position as an ESL instructor for Madrid's Ministry of Education. She will live in Madrid from September 2014 to June 2015.
    MATC alumna Kim Jeske was recently promoted to Staff Technical Writer at National Instruments (NI). During her two years at NI, she has received numerous awards, including last year's Rookie of the Year Award.
    MATC alumnus Ky Stevens has been offered a position as a UX (User Experience) Research Assistant at Grainger.com, in Austin, Texas.
    Denise MATC alumna Denise Cisneros has received a Spotlight Award from Blackbaud, a company in Austin that develops software and services for a wide range of nonprofits throughout the country. Denise, who was promoted to Technical Writer II within her first year there, received the award for work on a major documentation project. In addition, MATC alumnus Bryce Dishongh was recently hired by Blackbaud.

  • MATC Student and GRA Eric Hall has accepted a position as a Research Engineering/Scientist Associate I at the University of Texas at Austin's Applied Research Laboratories. Eric will prepare and present technical documentation of software processes, training materials, and operational and test procedures for high frequency active sonar systems deployed on United States Navy submarines and ships.

    MATC students Danielle McEwen and Joel Ritch received Summer Incentive Scholarships from the Graduate College.

    MATC graduate Chelsea Wunneburger has accepted a position as an ESL instructor for Madrid's Ministry of Education. She will live in Madrid from September 2014 to June 2015.

    MATC alumna Kim Jeske was recently promoted to Staff Technical Writer at National Instruments (NI). During her two years at NI, she has received numerous awards, including last year's Rookie of the Year Award.

    MATC alumnus Ky Stevens has been offered a position as a UX (User Experience) Research Assistant at Grainger.com, in Austin, Texas.

    MATC alumna Denise Cisneros has received a Spotlight Award from Blackbaud, a company in Austin that develops software and services for a wide range of nonprofits throughout the country. Denise, who was promoted to Technical Writer II within her first year there, received the award for work on a major documentation project. In addition, MATC alumnus Bryce Dishongh was recently hired by Blackbaud.

    MATC alumnus Chase Rogers writes software documentation in Houston for Canrig's instrumentation and drilling recording software, RigWatch®.

    MATC student Brandon McCartney has accepted a position as Associate UX Analyst at Visa. Brandon was offered this position after working as Associate UX Analyst Intern this past summer.

    MATC student Amarilis Castillo has been accepted into the Ph.D. program in Developmental Education at Texas State University.

    MATC graduate Mandy Glover was recognized for her project management work and received a leadership award at the 2013 National Instruments-Technical Communication conference. In June 2013, Mandy was promoted to Staff Technical Writer - Project Lead.

    MATC graduate Kim Jeske ended her first year at National Instruments by receiving a Rookie of the Year award at the 2013 National Instruments-Technical Communication conference, along with two nominations for the Technical Writing Excellence award.

    MATC student Monica De Los Santos will present "Futuristic Visions, Bold Reimaginings: The Conciliatory Rhetorical World of Mesoamerica and Mestizos" at the Conference on College Composition and Communication in March 2014.

    MATC graduate Michael Trice has accepted a position as a lecturer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Michael will begin teaching Writing & Communication this fall. Michael is a Ph.D. candidate in Texas Tech University's Technical Communication & Rhetoric Program.

    MATC graduate Marcia Bilbo has accepted a technical writing position at Polycom in Austin, Texas.

    MATC graduate Jennifer Cleveland has accepted a contract position as proposal editor for the Sprint Nextel Corporation.

    MATC student Jamie Peterson has been accepted into the Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Composition program at Kent State University, and has accepted an appointment as a Teaching Fellow there for the upcoming academic year.

    MATC student Jamie Peterson will present “Texas Legislature: Scaring the Women” at the 2013 Feminisms and Rhetorics Conference, to be held at Stanford University in late September. The presentation arises from Jamie’s research on political campaignlanguage developed to make the Human Papillomavirus vaccination mandatory in Texas for young teen girls prior to their entering sixth grade. 

    MATC student Meg Seeger has accepted a summer internship as a junior technical writer for Drillinginfo, Inc., an oil and gas intelligence company in Austin.
     
    MATC alumni S. Chase Rogers has accepted a position as Technical Writer at Canrig Drilling Technology Ltd. in Houston, Texas.
     
    MATC student Monica De Los Santos has been selected to serve as a first-stage proposal reviewer for the 2014 CCCC Annual Convention. At the 2013 CCCC convention, she presented in the featured session, "Writing and Working for Change: An Agenda for a New Generation."

    MATC student Zach Stout has accepted a position for the summer with USAA in San Antonio as a Media and Internet Content intern with the Mobile Channel team.

    MATC student Madeleine Williams has begun a six-month internship with Brenda Thompson Communications, a boutique PR firm in Austin.

    MATC graduate Susan Rauch's article, "The Accreditation of Hildegard von Bingen as Medieval Female Technical Writer,” has been nominated for NCTE's Best Article in Historical Research in Scientific and Technical Communication prize.

    MATC student Brandon McCartney has accepted an internship as Associate User Experience Analyst in the Enterprise Business Development team with Visa in Austin. Brandon will be working with usability testing and user research for web and mobile products for electronic payments.

    MATC alumna Denise Cisneros has accepted a technical writing position in Austin with Blackbaud, a company that creates financial software for non-profits. Their clients include Ronald McDonald House Charities, St. Jude, Relay for Life, and other organizations. Denise will be on the user education team.

    MATC student Amarilis Castillo will present "Latinas: Mentoring the Next Generation of Technical Communicators” at the TXNAME (Texas National Association for Multicultural Education) Conference, to be held at Texas State University on April 19-20, 2013.

    MATC student Iola Hallock has been hired as a Technical Editor with Freescale Semiconductor in Austin, Texas.

    MATC student Brandi Nicole Ford has accepted a position as an Advisory Writer at the Hewlett-Packard Company in Houston, Texas

  • MATC Alumnae Alexis Cline, who has been teaching Technical Writing here at Texas State University the past four years, is leaving this summer to join the Texas Computer Education Association as their Publications Specialist.  Her duties will include writing various marcom and technical documents as well as training teachers across the state on methods for incorporating technologies into the classroom.
     
    MATC student Elizabeth Vahalik has been hired as an Apple College Program Manager Rotation Advisor in which she will be responsible for a team of 15-20 technical support advisors in the college program. This position is a part of Apple's At-Home Advisor College Program.

    In February 2012, MATC Alumnus Ronny Roland has accepted a technical writing position with Telvent, a global software company, in Ft. Collins, Colorado.

    In February 2012, MATC and MALIT Student Susan Rauch has been accepted into the doctoral program in Technical Communication and Rhetoric at Texas Tech for fall 2012. She has also been awarded a Teaching Assistantship.

    In February 2012, MATC Alumnus and former MATC Graduate Assistant Jael Perales has been hired as an Administrative II in the Round Rock Center’s Director’s Suite. Jael said he applied for the position because it is similar to the MATC Assistantship, which he so enjoyed.

  • MATC student Kim Jeske has been chosen for an internship with the College for All Texans Foundation of the Texas Higher Education Board. Kim will be working on the Foundation’s website, social media, and various technological needs.
     
    MATC alumna Krystle Gonzalez-Danuz has been hired by ArthroCare, a medical equipment company in Austin, as an International Regulatory Affairs Specialist.
     
    MATC Student Susan Rauch's article, "The Accreditation of Hildegard von Bingen as Medieval Female Technical Writer" has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Technical Writing and Communication. It is scheduled for publication in 2012.
     
    MATC alumna Lonie McMichael has accepted a position as a Senior Lecturer at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, in the Professional and Technical Writing program.

    For her internship project in ENG 5312 during the Spring 2011 semester, MATC student Krystle Gonzalez-Danuz wrote, edited, and took photos for a *Student Success Guide* for Central Texas College.  The College is planning on 1,000 copies for the first printing of the publication.
     
    MATC alumna Lauren Clamurro has been hired as a contract junior technical writer for H-E-B in San Antonio.
     
    MATC student Liz Cross is a contract technical writer for the Texas Attorney General Office-Child Division Department in Austin Texas.

    MATC alumnae Amanda (“Mandy”) Grover has been hired as a technical writer by National Instruments in Austin. Mandy, who was an IT Operations Technical Writer for the Texas Department of Health Services in Austin, begins working for National Instruments March 7.

    MATC alumnus Michael Trice is a Presidential Doctoral Fellow in Technical Communication and Rhetoric at Texas Tech University.  He has a chapter, "How We Comment on Web Journalism: A Case Study on Dialogue Found in News Articles," coming out in March in *Ethics in Emerging Media Information, Social Norms, and New Media,* edited by Bruce E. Drushel and Kathleen German, and published by Continuum.

    MATC student Spencer Williamson will begin working as a Technical Writer and Editor for the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Business Oversight, Internal Control Service, in Austin on February 14.

    MATC student Susan Killebrew Davey’s article, “Technology and Innovation: Elevator Regulatory Speaks to Universities,” has been accepted to World Elevator Magazine, an international publication covering worldwide matters related to the history, technology, safety, and operation of elevators. Ms. Davey’s article is an interview with Lawrence Taylor, Chief Elevator Inspector for Texas. Ms. Davey, who is Texas State’s Business and Construction Warranties Manager for the campus Facilities Department, wrote the article as part of her coursework in the graduate Foundations in Technical Communication course in Fall 2010.

    MATC alumna and former MATC Graduate Assistant Melonie (“Lonie”) McMichael has completed her Ph.D. in Technical Communication and Rhetoric at Texas Tech University.

    MATC student Susan Davey has been chosen a winner of the Staff Educational Development Leave program for spring 2011 by William Nance, Texas State VPFSS.  The program pays full tuition, and it reduces a semester’s work week hours for a staff member to help her/him complete coursework.

  • MATC student Vita Haake gave birth on August 27, 2010 to Evelina Michelle (Evie).  Evie was 7lbs 4.5oz and 20”long. Vita and Evie are both doing fine.

    MATC alumna Sarah McNeely and husband Jeremy Bagley proudly announced the birth of Nora Kathryn McNeely-Bagley on Thursday, July 29, 2010.  Sarah, in the doctoral program at TCU, baby, and husband are all doing well.

    In May 2010, MATC student Susan Rauch presented "Apocalypse Now Y1K: What a Revelation! A comparative-critical literary analysis of Anglo-Saxon text disguised as New Testament biblical study" at the International Congress in Medieval Studies at Western Michigan University.  This past July she presented "Christiana: The Reincarnation of Margery or Bridget?  Discerning authorship and characterization in *The Pilgrim's Progress*: Part Two" at the Sixth International Conference of the International John Bunyan Society, held at Keele University in England.  At the October meeting of the Rocky Mountain MLA, she’ll read "Where the Boys (and Girls) Are: From the Pastons' to Mulcaster's English."

    MATC alumna Sarah Wilson married Chad Allison June 12 at the Inn at Salado in Salado, Texas. Sarah was a MATC Graduate Assistant and now works for a children’s book publishing company in Dallas. Chad is from Oklahoma and is a computer hardware salesman.

    Susan Rauch, current MATC student, has been awarded the Fall 2010 graduate Women’s Scholarship sponsored by the Center for Multicultural and Gender Studies.

    MATC alumnus and current Fulbright Scholar Michael Trice has contributed "Going Deep: What Online Sports Culture Teaches About the Rhetorical Future of Social Networks" to the collection, *Digital Generation: Essays on New Media Rhetoric,* published by McFarland Press.  His work on the essay began in a class with Dr. Deb Balzhiser.

  • MATC student Tate English's short film has received rave reviews in the Austin Chronicle.

    MATC student Vita Haake's book review of "XML in Technical Communication" by Charles Cowan was published in the STC journal Technical Communication. Vita wrote the review as an assignment as part of a graduate course she took during Fall 2008.

    MATC alumna Janice Ringersma presented at the 2009 Computers and Writing conference at the University of California-Davis on using technology for service learning projects in rural communities.

    MATC alumna Emmelyn Wang was elected to serve a second season as the Director of Education, Seminars, and acting Program Manager for the Austin chapter of the STC. She also received the Graduate Scholars Scholarship for the 2009-2010 academic year. 

    MATC alumnus Michael Trice, who was named 2009 Outstanding Graduate Student in English, was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship in the spring of 2009.  Michael is currently studying in the UK.

    MATC alumna Rebecca Abbott received the Celebrity Classic Scholarship for the 2009/2010 academic year.

  • MATC alumnus Sean Doran, a technical writer for Biomat's Austin Testing Laboratory, was invited by Grifols – Biomat's parent company and the third largest supplier of plasma products in the world – to train employees about technical writing for Grifols' new International Training Academy in Arizona.

    MATC alumna Jennifer Osburn was hired as a technical writer for Texas Parks and Wildlife.

    MATC alumna Amanda Grover’s presentation, “The Perils of Teaching Technical Writing for the Hypothetical Workplace: How Avoiding Pseudotransactionality Can Lead to Megacognitive Curriculum,” was accepted by the Arkansas Philological Conference at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith in October 2008.

    MATC alumnus Michael Trice was appointed Assistant Editor for Kairos: A Journal of Rhetoric, Technology, and Pedagogy. He competed against faculty for this appointment.  Michael also had a book chapter accepted for an edited collection, was accepted to present at the Popular Culture Association conference March 2008, and began working with the University News Service at Texas State University as web designer.

     

  • Miriam Williams has accepted an invitation to serve on The Ohio State University’s Department of Engineering Education Advisory Board. In October she participated in a virtual panel discussion at the University of Houston-Downtown’s Biannual Forum on Plain English. In November she will participate in a virtual panel discussion on plain language at the National Communication Association’s 106th Annual Convention.

    Miriam Williams has been appointed Editor-in-Chief of Technical Communication, the journal of the Society for Technical Communication (STC). Technical Communication publishes quantitative and qualitative research and serves technical communicators in academia and industry. Her appointment begins January 2021. See STC's announcement.

    Chris Dayley and Aimee Roundtree will present on the 2020 Council for Programs in Technical and Scientific Communication’s plenary panel, “Administering Programs in a Time of Crisis.” The virtual conference will be held on October 2nd.  

    Aimee Roundtree is now a member of the World Economic Forum's Generation AI Project, which is helping to create industry guidelines, competitions, and standards for how artificial intelligence is tested and deployed in products for children.

    An essay by Miriam Williams and Natasha Jones (Michigan State University), “The Just Use of Imagination: A Call to Action,” which is a response to recent events, was published by both the Association of Teachers of Technical Writing and the Spark: 4C4Equality Journal in June.

    Aimee Roundtree’s article, “Student Recruitment in Technical and Professional Communication Programs,” written with Felicia Chong, was published on May 26 by Technical Communication Quarterly.

    Miriam Williams and co-author Natasha Jones were awarded the 2020 CCCC Scientific and Technical Communication Award in the category of Best Article Reporting Historical Research or Textual Studies in Technical and Scientific Communication. Dr. Williams and Dr. Jones received this award for their article “Technologies of Disenfranchisement: Literacy Tests and Black Voters in the US from 1890 to 1965."

     

  • Aimee Roundtree and co-investigator Craig Hanks were awarded research funds from the NEC Foundation for their proposal, “Investigating Perceptions of Biometric Data for Higher Education and Emergency Response: Weighing Issues of Ethics, Privacy, Ownership, Consent, and Justice." The Foundation is the charitable arm of the NEC Corporation, a multinational tech company that specializes in facial recognition.

    Miriam Williams presented the Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) Kickoff Keynote to the Texas A&M University Central Texas community on September 4, 2019. The QEP is a SACS accreditation requirement to help universities improve student learning outcomes. Miriam's talk discussed her writing experiences with regulatory and environmental agencies and made recommendations for implementing the university's writing-focused QEP. 

    Aimee Roundtree published “A Qualitative Approach Towards Understanding HIV-Related Stress in Texas” in Texas Medicine; the study based upon quantitative research was written with several colleagues and a Texas State graduate student from the Psychology program on whose thesis committee she served.

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    Miriam Williams’ article, “Technologies of Disenfranchisement: Literacy tests and Black voters in the U.S. from 1890-1965" (with Natasha Jones of the University of Central Florida) will be published in the Society of Technical Communication’s Journal, *Technical Communication,* in the fall 2018 Special Issue on Election Technologies. Her essay, “#BlackLivesMatter: Tweeting a Movement in Chronos and Kairos,” is included in Octavio Pimentel and Cruz Medina’s edited collection, which was recently published by Computers & Composition Digital Press. 
    Pinfan Zhu presented his paper, “Well-Received Rhetorical Strategies as Demonstrated in the Speeches and Reports by Chinese Leaders” at the Annual International Conference of the International Organization of Social Science and Research on March 20. He was also recently invited to be on the Editorial Board for the Journal of Media and Communication Studies and currently serves as a member on the Editorial Board for theJournal of Traditional Chinese Medicine by Hunan University, China.
    Scott Mogull was interviewed by Jack McLellan with Creative Tucson. 
    Aimee Kendall Roundtree’s article “Dialogic of Social Media in Healthcare Settings: Text Mining the Rules, Attitudes, and Behaviors of Health Organizations and the Public” appears in the current issue of the American Communication Journal.
    On March 13, Scott Mogull chaired the session “Critical Discourse Analysis of Technical Communications in Capitalist Medicine” at the 21st annual conference of the Association of Teachers of Technical Writing in Kansas City, KS.  The participants presented research on health care communications in industry.

    Deb Balzhiser and Amanda Scott from the English Department, and Assistant Professor of Curriculum Instruction Charise Pimentel, recently presented a panel titled “Matters of Form: Questions of Race, Identity, Design, and the U.S. Census” at the annual Association of Teachers of Technical Writing conference in Kansas City, Kansas." 

     

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    Aimee Roundtree's funded research projects are highlighted in Engaging Research, which is the Office of Sponsored Programs' Faculty Research Spotlight.
    Scott Mogull's book was recently published by Routledge, Scientific and Medical Communication: A Guide for Effective Practice, the first practice-line book in the ATTW-Routledge Book Series in Technical and Professional Communication. Scott also published a research article in the prominent scientific/medical journal PLOS ONE, titled “Accuracy of Cited ‘Facts’ in Medical Research Articles: A Review of Study Methodology and Recalculation of Quotation Error Rate.” In the article, Dr. Mogull corrected the error rate of cited research "facts," which are inaccurate summaries of previous research studies. He found that 14.5% of claims in the original medical studies are inaccurately summarized or presented when compared to the data and claims in the original studies. He is also the author of “Science vs. Science Commercialization in Neoliberalism (Extreme Capitalism): Examining the Conflicts and Ethics of Information Sharing in Opposing Social Systems,” a chapter in Scientific Communication: Practices, Theories, and Pedagogies. The book is part of the Routledge Series in Technical Communication, Rhetoric and Culture. Dr. Mogull also presented a research paper at the Rhetoric of Health & Medicine Symposium entitled, “Direct-to-Consumer Advertising in a Late-Capitalist, Saturated Pharmaceutical Drug Market: Discord in the Treximet Marketing as Greed Outpaces Innovation.”
    Miriam Williams' article, "The Social Justice Impact of Plain Language: A Critical Approach to Plain Language Analysis," (co-authored with Natasha Jones of University of Central Florida), will be published in the 2017 Plain Language Special Issue of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Transactions on Professional Communication.
    Aimee Roundtree has been selected as the new Associate Dean for Research in the College of Liberal Arts. Aimee will begin her assignment this fall, replacing Brit Bousman of Anthropology, who served in the position since 2011.
    At the Association of Teachers of Technical Writing (ATTW) 2017 conference in Portland, Oregon, Miriam Williams was named a Fellow of the organization. As noted on the ATTW website proclaiming the honor, "the elevation of Professor Miriam Williams to the rank of ATTW Fellow is a historic moment in this organization. In a technical communication career that has, so far, spanned over twenty years, Dr. Williams has distinguished herself as a practitioner, a teacher, a scholar, and as an academic program administrator, and she is now the first person of color to be recognized as a Fellow...".
    In early February, Scott Mogull will present research entitled, “Intersection of Technical Communication and Marketing Genres: Spanning Silos through Product Documentation” at the Fifth Colloquium Technical Communication in the Field, hosted by the Université Paris Diderot.
    Aimee Roundtree was interviewed on the “10 Minute Tech Comm” podcast about her article, "Social Health Content and Activity on Facebook: A Survey Study." The episode is available here. Aimee also received a $20K grant from State Farm to research and design an intervention for improving fire incident reporting strategies. She will use text mining and qualitative research methods to characterize best practices and identify barriers that hinder report accuracy, consistency, and quality. The project will help San Marcos and College Station Fire Departments set reporting guidelines, create reporting templates, and train firefighters.
    At the Health Scholar Showcase on February 10, Scott Mogull and Aimee Roundtree will present on Medical Communication: Patients, Providers, and the Public. Dr. Mogull will present his review of citation accuracy in medical research and Dr. Roundtree will present her work on autism community activism on Twitter.
    Aimee Roundtree won a teaching grant along with Dr. Hunter Close (Physics), Dr. Kristina Collins (Education), Dr. Grayson Lawrence (Art and Design), and Dr. Ziliang Zong (Computer Science). She will serve as Project Director on “Coding Across the Disciplines,” a $100K project to teach computer programming skills to middle and high school teachers from all disciplines. The project was funded by WeTeach_CS, a program of The University of Texas at Austin’s Center for STEM Education.

     

  • Aimee Roundtree was named an Alphi Chi Favorite Professor for Fall 2016.

    Aimee Roundtree’s research on how the autism community uses Twitter for advocacy was accepted for presentation at the Center for Disease Control’s National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing and Media, taking place this August in Atlanta. Her work, "#TweetLikeANeurotyical: Understanding Diagnosis Attitudes and Experiences of the Autism Community Online," situates hashtags used by the community as a form of linguistic reclamation similar to other minority groups.

    The following candidates from the Department of English for tenure and/or promotion in 2015-2016 have received letters of approval from the Provost, subject to final approval by the Board of Regents at a meeting later this spring: Suparno Banerjee, Joe Falocco, and Scott Mogull have received the Provost’s approval for tenure and promotion to associate professor; Octavio Pimentel and Pinfan Zhu have received the Provost’s approval for promotion from associate to full professor. 

    Scott Mogull will present research on the accuracy of cited claims in the medical literature at the 42nd Conference of the European Medical Writers Association, which will be held in Munich, Germany this May.

    The Conference on College Composition and Communication has selected Miriam Williams and Octavio Pimentel’s Communicating Race, Ethnicity, and Identity in Technical Communication as the winner of the 2016 CCCC Technical and Scientific Communication Award in the category of Best Original Collection of Essays in Technical or Scientific Communication. Octavio and Miriam will be presented with the award at the Awards Session of the 2016 CCCC Convention in Houston this coming April.

    At the 2016 Association for Teachers of Technical Writing (ATTW), to be held in Houston this April, Aimee Roundtree, Deb Balzhiser, and Miriam Williams will present research in a panel discussion titled, "Social Justice on Social Media: The Impact of Digital Technology on Political and Health Communication and Advocacy.” The focus of this year's ATTW conference is citizenship and advocacy in technical communication.

    Aimee Roundtree’s "Social Health Content and Activity on Facebook: A Survey Study,” was accepted for publication in the Journal of Technical Writing and Communication.

  • MATC faculty Deb Balzhiser along with coauthors Paul Sawyer (Southeastern Louisiana University) and MATC graduates Shen Womack-Smith and J A Smith's article, "Participatory Design Research for Curriculum Development of Graduate Programs for Workplace Professionals ,” was published in the Fall 2015 issue of Programmatic Perspectives.

     

    Miriam Williams and Octavio Pimentel’s Communicating Race, Ethnicity, and Identity in Technical Communication, published in 2015 by Baywood Publishing Company, has been nominated for the 2016 Technical and Scientific Communication Awards sponsored by the Conference on College Composition & Communication.

    MATC faculty Scott Mogull and Deb Balzhiser co-authored "Pharmaceutical Companies are Writing the Script for Health Consumerism," published in the August 2015 issue of Communication Design Quarterly as part of a special issue on medical rhetoric.

    Aimee Roundtree's book, Computer Simulation, Rhetoric, and the Scientific Imagination: How Virtual Evidence Shapes Science in the Making and in the News, was favorably reviewed in two technical communication journals. See excerpts from reviews below:

    [This book] is a timely exploration of computer simulation in scientific argument. The book is a needed foundation for future investigations into simulations and their construction and function in professional, scientific discourse as well as how simulations are used and discussed in public debates about climate change and other contentious scientific and technical debates. . . .Roundtree makes a well-argued and -supported exploration of a topic important to technical writers and science communication specialists. . . .Technical writing instructors would do well to consider ways to situate the writing about and inclusion of simulated evidence into students’ writing education, and she suggests that we can think about how to help simulation scientists understand the rhetorical choices they make to improve their work as well . . . Roundtree’s research supports these efforts and offers a framework for more scholarship on the construction, presentation, and reception of simulations.

    — Technical Communication Quarterly, June 2015 (24:3)

    In her stimulating book . . . Aimee Kendall Roundtree shows how computer simulations provide an alternate way of conducting science. . . .Roundtree’s thought-provoking analysis is recommended as a sourcebook for technical communicators seeking to understand how rhetoric works in scientific documentation, especially that involving computer simulations of procedures, usability interfaces, and other dynamic online content.

    — Technical Communication, Feb 2015 (62:1)

    Pinfan Zhu's article "Against Cultural Influence on Structuring a Discourse for Cross-Cultural Communication" was published as the lead article in the March 2015 issues of International Journal of Liberal Arts and Social Science. “The Impact of Business Cultural Values on Homepage Design That May Affect International Business" has been accepted by the Journal of Technical Writing & Communication.

    Libby Allison has been invited to participate in Multicultural Curriculum Transformation Institute, sponsored by Texas State’s Center for Diversity and Gender Studies.

    Miriam Williams has accepted an invitation to serve as guest speaker during Texas Tech University's Ph.D. in Technical Communication & Rhetoric Program's May Seminar, to be held May 22nd through June 4th, 2015.

    Scott Mogull’s article “Direct-to-Consumer Advertising and Health Consumerism” has been accepted for publication in Fall 2015 as part of a special issue of Communication Design Quarterly exploring health and medical discourses. CDQ is the peer-reviewed journal of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Special Interest Group on Design of Communication.

    Aimee Roundtree presented "Uncertainty in Healthcare Decisions" as a part of the Philosophy Dialogue Series.

    Scott Mogull's presentation, "Practices of Visual Inscriptions in Science and Engineering Discourse: Implications for Teaching," has been accepted at ProComm 2015, the annual conference of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Professional Communication Societ, to be held in Limerick, Ireland on July 12-15, 2015.

    Deb Balzhiser's article, “Participatory Media & Culture: The Spirit of the Human," written with Caroline Jones and former MATC students Julie Good and Tate English, appears in the latest issue of Technoculture.

    Pinfan Zhu’s article "On the Right Strategy for Translating Technical and Business Information" was published in the latest issue of the International Journal of Education and Social Science. His "Translation Criteria: How They May Affect International Business" was accepted by the Journal of Technical Writing and Communication for a forthcoming issue.

    Deb Balzhiser's article, "Community Guides: Disrupting Oppression in Comment Threads on Social Sites," written with Stephanie Vie (University of Central Florida) and Devon Fitzgerald Ralston (Miami University, Ohio), appears in the latest issue of Technoculture.

    Miriam Williams and Octavio Pimentel’s edited book collection, Communicating Race, Ethnicity, and Identity in Technical Communication, was favorably reviewed in the December 2014 issue of the Society for Technical Communication Journal.  The reviewer noted, "Communicating Race, Ethnicity, and Identity in Technical Communication has wide-reaching potential for readers and uses. Possible readers include scholars in technical communication and intercultural communication, practicing technical writers, and graduate students. Numerous possibilities exist for using this book in graduate courses, such as introduction to technical communication, intercultural rhetoric, proposal and grant writing, and courses that incorporate discussion about social justice."

    Miriam Williams accepted an invitation to serve on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Technical Writing and Communication.

    Pinfan Zhu attended the International Organization of Social Sciences and Behavioral Research conference in Las Vegas on October 13-14, presenting "Translation Criteria: How They Affect International Business."

    Aimee Roundtree has accepted an invitation to serve on Texas State University's Institutional Review Board (IRB) Committee, which is the committee responsible for ensuring the ethical treatment of human research subjects. Aimee's book, Computer Simulation, Rhetoric, and the Scientific Imagination: How virtual evidence shapes science in the making and in the news, was favorably reviewed in the fall issue of Business and Professional Communication Quarterly.

    Scott Mogull's research article entitled "Integrating Online Informative Videos into Technical Communication Courses," has been accepted for publication in the December issue of IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication. The case study describes the development and assessment of online informative videos integrated into introductory technical communication courses.

    Libby Allison will present  “The Risk of Teaching Writing in Context: The Lost Rewards of Writing about Difference” at the 2015 Conference on College Composition and Communication in Tampa, FL. Her presentation is part of a panel entitled “Twenty-Five Years after the 'Troubles at Texas’: Learning from Linda Brodkey and the Risks of Writing Pedagogy.”

    Aimee Roundtree will present her paper, "Computer Simulation as Rhetoric," at the National Communication Association Conference in Chicago, in November. Her book, Computer Simulation, Rhetoric, and the Scientific Imagination, was a finalist in the Foreword Book of the year award, in the Science category.

    Through the May 2014 Graduating Student Recognition of Campus Support Program, sponsored by the Texas State Office of Student Retention, the following faculty, staff and graduate assistants were identified by students as having had a significant impact on them during the students’ time at the university: Libby Allison, Deb Balzhiser, Scott Mogull, Miriam Williams, and Pinfan Zhu.

    In 2013-14, more faculty from the English Department served on Faculty Senate committees than from any other department including, Miriam Williams: Library Committee.

    Congratulations to Miriam Williams, who has been recommended for promotion to full professor.

    Pinfan Zhu completed the Sloane-C Online Certificate Program, which is a rigorous online training program that prepares faculty to improve online teaching.

    The American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) Southwest Chapter Conference will be held at Texas State University on June 21, 2014. Dr. Scott Mogull will present at the conference and is serving as conference host.

  • Through the May 2014 Graduating Student Recognition of Campus Support Program, sponsored by the Texas State Office of Student Retention, the following faculty, staff and graduate assistants were identified by students as having had a significant impact on them during the students’ time at the university: Libby Allison, Deb Balzhiser, Scott Mogull, Miriam Williams, and Pinfan Zhu.

    In 2013-14, more faculty from the English Department served on Faculty Senate committees than from any other department: Suparno Banerjee:  University Council; Rebecca Bell-Metereau:  Faculty Senate (Secretary), University Council; Paul Cohen:  Piper Selection Committee; Laura Ellis-Lai:  Adjunct Faculty Liaison; Roger Jones:  Faculty Handbook Committee; Miriam Williams:  Library Committee; Steve Wilson:  University Arts Committee, Suspension Appeals Committee; and Sarah Youree:  Budget Committee.

    Congratulations to Doug Dorst for receiving the President's and Provost's recommendation for tenure and promotion to associate professor; and congratulations to Teya Rosenberg and Miriam Williams, both of whom have been recommended for promotion to full professor.

    Pinfan Zhu completed the Sloane-C Online Certificate Program, which is a rigorous online training program that prepares faculty to improve online teaching.

    The American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) Southwest Chapter Conference will be held at Texas State University on June 21, 2014. Dr. Scott Mogull will present at the conference and is serving as conference host.

    Pinfan Zhu's book, Communicating Traditional Chinese Medicine Across Cultures, was published by Scholars Press in November 2013.

    Zhu's Book

    Scott Mogull has accepted an invitation to serve on the advisory committee for the Business & Technical Communication program at Austin Community College.

    Pinfan Zhu presented "Effective Information Design as a Means to Ensure the Success of International Business" at the Annual Conference of International Organization of Social Science and Behavoral Research, held Oct. 14 in New Orleans.

    Octavio Pimentel and Miriam Williams will present "Opening Technical Communication to Discussions of Race and Ethnicity: A Conversation between Scholars in Technical Communication and Rhetoric and Composition" at the Conference on College Composition and Communication, taking place in March 2014.

    Octavio Pimentel will present “Mexican Wrestlers and White Cowboys:  Racist Media Spots in Television Commercials” on the panel "Racial Discourses in Media Unchained" at the 2013 Western States Rhetoric and Literacy Conference.

    On September 5 & 6, 2013, Scott A. Mogull spoke at a two-day trans-disciplinary symposium at the University of Cincinnati.  Approximately 50 scholars from Communication and English Studies (technical and professional writing and composition & rhetoric) met for the first time at an event dedicated solely to the study of health and medical discourse. At this peer-reviewed, invitation-only event, speakers were selected based on their reputation as significant and widely respected scholars in the field of health and medical discourse. The event was sponsored by the Taft Research Center, the Urban Health Research Center, the Taft Research Center Medical Humanities Group, and the University of Cincinnati Faculty Development Council.

    Octavio Pimentel’s "The Changing Demographics of the United States: Rethinking the Academic Experience of English Language Learners” appears in the September 2013 The Council Chronicle. "An Invitation to a Too-Long Postponed Conversation: Race and Composition" was published in the Spring 2013 issue of Reflections: Journal of Writing, Community Literacy, and Service Learning. In addition, Octavio has been elected to serve on the Executive Committee of the Conference on College Composition and Communication; his term runs from 2014 to 2016.

    Octavio Pimentel has been invited to serve as a 2nd stage reviewer for the 2014 meeting of the Conference on College Composition and Communication. According to conference Chair Alan Banks, “Stage 2 takes place at the NCTE headquarters in Urbana, IL and involves a small group of prominent people in the field as well as the nominees for Assistant Chair. Nominees typically participate in Stage 2 review so that they can learn the process and get an inside look at how the convention is put together, and also become acquainted with the NCTE/CCCC staff.” In addition, Octavio has been chosen to participate in the 2014 Globalization Workshop here at Texas State.

    Through a program coordinated by the Office of Retention Management and Planning, the following faculty and staff received letters of recognition from students graduating in December 2012 and attesting to the impact they had on the students’ lives and university careers: Libby Allison, Deb Balzhiser,  Rebecca Jackson, Scott Mogull, and Pinfan Zhu.

    Miriam Williams and Octavio Pimentel's edited book collection, Communicating Race, Ethnicity, and Identity in Technical Communication, has been accepted for publication in Baywood Publishing's Technical Communication Series. Octavio’s article, "An Invitation to a Too-Long Postponed Conversation: Race and Composition," has been accepted for publication in Reflections: A Journal of Writing, Community Literacy, and Service Learning.

     

  •  

    Libby Allison has been awarded a $1,961 Alkek Library Research Grant to cover the purchase of books and resources in the area of the rhetoric of risk, which is part of her research about the language of National Weather Service advisories. Libby also has been recognized as Favorite Professor by graduate student inductees to Texas State's Alpha Chi National College Honor Society.
     
    Pinfan Zhu presented "Translation Criteria and Their Impact on International Technical Communication" at the Annual Conference of the International Organization of Social Sciences and Behavioral Research, which took in Biloxi on Oct. 19th.
     
    This spring a number of faculty and staff were recognized by students as part of the University’s Retention Programs. In the Student Veteran Appreciation Program, students cited Deb Balzhiser, Rebecca Jackson, and Octavio Pimentel. Spring 2012 graduating students cited Libby Allison, Deb Balzhiser, Rebecca Jackson, and Octavio Pimentel.
     
    Miriam Williams has been selected to serve as a protégé in the American Association of State Colleges and Universities’ Millennium Leadership Initiative. As an MLI participant, she will be mentored by a college president throughout the 2012-2013 academic year. She will also attend the MLI Summer Institute in Washington, D.C. in June 2012.
     
    Pinfan Zhu’s article "Linking Contextual Factors with Rhetorical Pattern Shift," co-authored with Junhua Wang, has been nominated by the *Journal of Technical Writing and Communication* as the Best Article for Reporting Quantitative or Qualitative Research in 2012.  His presentation "Using Globalization as a Shaping Tool to Reshape the Curriculum of Technical Communication Program" has been accepted by the Association of Teachers of Technical Writing.

     

    Miriam Williams has signed a book contract with Pearson Allyn & Bacon for Workplace Communication: Introducing Business, Professional, and Technical Communication. The textbook will be written for students enrolled in upper-level workplace writing courses.

     

  • Libby Allison has been named an Alpha Chi “Favorite Professor” for 2011.

    Pinfan Zhu’s "Application of Robert Gagne's Nine Principle Instructions to the Teaching of Web Localization " has been nominated for the NCTE/CCCC Best Article in Technical and Scientific Communication Award.
     
    Pinfan Zhu will present “Impact of Cultural Values on the Usability of International Websites” at the November meeting of the International Organization of Social Sciences and Behavioral Research, taking place in Las Vegas.
     
    Miriam Williams' article, " Game Theory and Technical Communication: Interpreting the Texas Two-Step Caucus Tier through Harsanyi Transformation," has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Techncial Writing and Communication. It is scheduled for publication in 2012.
     
    Pinfan Zhu’s "Cultural Values Carried in International Business Homepages That Failed to Accommodate the Needs of Cultural Audiences" was published in the Journal for Global Business Education.

     

    Miriam Williams has been selected as the next Presidential Fellow.  From September 2011 through August 2012, Dr. Williams will be half time in the department and half time in her new role as fellow.  She will have an office in the J. C. Kellam Building.
     

    Miriam Williams’ book, *From Black Codes to Recodification: Removing the Veil from Regulatory Writing,* which is part of the Baywood Technical Communication Series, was favorably reviewed in the current issue of *IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication*: "Williams’ text makes a significant contribution to the body of scholarship that broadens the scope of the field of technical communication – in theory and in practice – to include topics that focus on social and legal concerns and issues of civic engagement, public policy, and political discourse."
     

    Libby Allison has been awarded a $1,500 Library Research Grant from Alkek Library. Libby says that Graduate Student Susan Rauch also deserves credit for helping develop the grant proposal, which is to add medical and health care books and resources from Medieval, Renaissance/Early Modern, and Enlightenment periods to the campus library. Libby is working with Susan on discourse analysis of how language from medical handbooks from these periods either promote or resist the stigmatization of mental illness and brain disorders.

  • Drs. Miriam Williams and Octavio Pimentel were chosen to edit a special issue of the Journal of Business and Technical Communication on Race, Ethnicity, and Technical Communication:  Examining Multicultural Issues within the United States. The issue was distributed in Fall 2010.

     

    Deb Balzhiser and Becky Jackson will each present papers on their panel, "Mapping Contested Spaces for the Undergraduate Major in Writing and Rhetoric," at the 2011 Conference on College Composition and Communication in Atlanta, GA.
     

    Pinfan Zhu and co-author and Kirk St. Amant published “An Application of Robert Gagne’s Nine Events of Instruction to the Teaching of Website Localization” in a recent issue of the *Journal of Technical Writing & Technical Communication.*  Pinfan also published “Problematic Graphics That Affect International Business” in the *Journal for Global Business Education.*

     

    The July 2010 issue of *Technical Communication Quarterly* includes an article co-authored by Dave Yeats, Ph.D., who taught a course in Project Management with the MATC program during Fall 2010.  The article, “Mapping Technical and Professional Communication: A Summary and Survey of Academic Locations for Programs,” was written by Yeats and Isabelle Thompson. Yeats, who has a doctorate in Technical Communication and Rhetoric from Texas Tech and has taught at Auburn University, is a partner in Sentier Strategic Resources in Austin, which does usability studies.

     

    The following faculty and staff members from the MATC Program received Appreciation Letters from graduating students at the end of Spring 2010: Libby Allison, Deb Balzhiser, Miriam Williams, and Pinfan Zhu.
     

    Miriam Williams’ article “Understanding Public Policy Development as a Technological Process," which was published in the *Journal of Business and Technical Communication,* has been nominated for the National Council of Teachers of English award for Best Article on Philosophy or Theory of Technical or Scientific Communication.

     

    Libby Allison, Ph.D., Director of the MATC program, has been promoted to full professor, effective September 1, 2010.

     

    Dr. Pinfan Zhu’s "Cultural Blunders in International Professional Writing from a Semantic Perspective" appeared in a recent issue of Technical Communication.

     

    Dr. Pinfan Zhu has published the article he wrote titled, "Linking Contextual Factors with Rhetorical Pattern Shift: Direct and Indirect Strategies Recommended in English Business Communication Textbooks in China" in the March 2001 issue of The Journal of Technical Writing and Communication.

     

    Dr. Octavio Pimentel has been reappointed to serve as a reviewer for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Scholarship.

     

    Dr. Miriam Williams has accepted an invitation to join the editorial review board of the Journal of Business and Technical Communication (JBTC). The JBTC is a top journal in the field of Technical Communication.

     

    Dr. Pinfan Zhu's article, "Semantic Problems that Affect International Business," was published in the June issue of Journal for Global Business Education. Also, Dr. Zhu has been invited to serve as a referee for Technical Communication.

     

    Dr. Libby Allison, Dr. Deborah Balzhiser, Dr. Miriam Williams, and Dr. Pinfan Zhu were featured in the current issue of Hillviews in an article highlighting the MATC program. This fall marks the program's 10th year.

     

    Congratulations to Dr. Miriam Williams for earning tenure and promotion to associate professor.

    Dr. Pinfan Zhu's article, “An Application of Robert Gagne’s Nine Events of Instruction to the Teaching of Web Localization," will appear in an upcoming issue of Technical Writing and Communication.

  • Dr. Libby Allison has been chosen as one of three Texas State faculty who will serve as Service-Learning Fellows for 2009-2010.  Libby’s proposal is to include a service-learning component in a graduate online/hybrid course in Medical Rhetoric and Writing, in which students provide writing and editing consulting services to nonprofit health-care organizations in the region.

    The University Council has formally endorsed the Department's proposal to offer the MA in Technical Communication as a hybrid degree (in-person/online). Congratulations to Dr. Libby Allison and the MATC faculty for this next step in the evolution of the program, which is approaching its ten-year anniversary. Also, Dr. Libby Allison will receive a service award at the University Convocation in August 2009 to mark her 10 years of dedicated work at Texas State University.

    Dr. Pinfan Zhu's presentation, "New Teaching Method: the Podcast as Applied in a Technical Communication Class," was accepted for the "Forces of Change in Technical and Professional Communication" session at the Rocky Mountain Modern Language Association convention, to be held at Snowbird, October 8-10, 2009.

    In March 2009, Dr. Miriam Williams presented at the meeting of the Association of Teachers of Technical Writing, held in conjunction with CCCC.

  • Pinfan Zhu’s article, “Language Problems to be Coped with in Web Localization,” has been published in the current issue of the Journal of Technical Writing and Communication. Zhu's article, "Cultural Blunders from a Semantic Perspective in International Technical Communication," will appear in an upcoming issue of the Journal of Technical Writing and Communication. Also, his "Semantic Problems that Affect International Business" was accepted by the Journal for Global Business Education.

    Dr. Miriam Williams' article, "Understanding Public Policy Development as a Technological Process," was accepted by the Journal of Business and Technical Communication.

    Dr. Libby Allison and Dr. Miriam Williams co-wrote the textbook, Writing for the Government

    (pictured, right), published by Pearson Education. The book is now in print.textbook cover

    Libby Allison, Miriam Williams, and Pinfan Zhu's panel, "Communicating to Help the Public: Technical Communication as a Catalyst for Change in National Weather Advisories, Environmental Regulation, and Health Care Information," was accepted for the 2008 Conference on College Composition and Communication.  Libby's presentation is "The Perfect Words: How the Reality of Storm Disasters Changed the Language of National Weather Service Advisories."  Miriam's presentation is "Documentation and Civic Participation: How the Reality of Pollution Changed Environmental Inspections and Monitoring."  Pinfan Zhu's presentation is "Bad Design, Bad Treatment: How the Reality of Poor Document Design Hinders Health Care Communication."

    Miriam Williams' article, "Embracing New Policies, Technologies, and Community Partnerships: Using Technical Communication to Improve Air and Water Quality," written with Daisy James, an environmental scientist, was accepted for publication in the 2008 Science and Public Policy issue of Technical Communication Quarterly (TCQ). Her book manuscript, From Black Code to Recodification: Removing the Veil from Regulatory Writing, was accepted for publication by Baywood Press. The book appears in Baywood's highly regarded Technical Communication Series.

  • Dr. Pinfan Zhu's presentation, “Using Active Practice Theory in Designing a Course of Technical Communication,” was accepted into the 53rd Society of Technical Communication (STC) Conference proceedings book. Also, his chapter, “Translation of Traditional Chinese Medicine: Gains vs. Losses,” was accepted for the book, Gained in Translation: World Literature and Cultural Imagination, by Karen R. Keck, for publication by Cambridge Scholars Press and due out in January. In addition, his conference paper, “Problems in Traditional Chinese Medicine Translation from Semantic and Syntactic Perspectives,” has been accepted for the American Translators Association’s 47th Conference in November in New Orleans. Pinfan has also received a library grant for approximately $800 for resources on using multimedia in online international technical communication courses.

    Pinfan Zhu and Kirk St. Amant of Texas Tech's article, "Taking Traditional Chinese Medicine International and Online: An Examination of the Cultural Rhetorical Factors Affecting American Perceptions of Chinese-created Web Sites" was published in the May 2007 edition of Technical Communication, the Journal of the Society for Technical Communication. His article, "Language Problems to Be Coped with in Web Localization" was accepted and published by the Journal of Scientific and Technical Writing.

    Dr. Deb Morton with Dr. Rebecca Jackson published "Becoming Landscape Architects: A Postmodern Approach to WAC Sustainability” in the WAC Journal. Dr. Morton also cowrote the article “If You *Build* It, Will They Come? Maybe. Maybe Not” featured in Computers & Writing. Dr. Morton published the article “Technology Program Development Workshop: Reviewing, Revamping and Creating Undergraduate Majors” as well and has been appointed the Communications Editor for the journal Kairos.

    Octavio Pimentel, along with Dr. Ana Juarez (Texas State Department Of Anthropology) and eight students, went to Guatemala to study Guatemala's education system. Since returning from Guatemala he continues to mentor eight students who are continuing their ethnography research in Guatemala. This project is funded by a $300,000 National Science Foundation Grant. He is also the first author on the book that will arise from this research project.In addition, this summer Octavio worked with Melissa Moreno (a PhD candidate from the University of Utah) on her research project on Chicano Activism. This project was funded by the graduate school at Texas State. Two of Dr. Pimentel's essays appear in books: "Uncovering the White Man's Dominance in Writing Centers: Brown Cuentos (Critical Narratives) from the Margins" was included in The Other Sides of Silence: Negotiating Race in Writing Center Discourse and Practice, edited by Laura Greenfield and Karen Rowan; and “Haciendo Lugar Para Todos (Making Room for Everyone). . . Including Those Students who are Brown," was published in Inventing Identities in Second Language Writing.