Author: Callie McNorton

The Conference on College Composition and Communication Recap

The Conference on College Composition and Communication (Cs) is a gateway to public discussion that advocates for the ever-evolving definitions of “literacy, communication, rhetoric, and writing (including multimodal discourse, digital communication, and diverse language practices).” Through collaboration and the promotion of ethical scholarship, Cs empowers diverse individuals and communities that will hopefully translate to practical solutions and modeling in teaching and learning. The annual convention was held last month in Baltimore with the theme: “Computer Love”: Extended Play, B-Sides, Remix, Collaboration, and Creativity. DePaul’s WRD program was represented by an alumna, a student, and four faculty members: Madeline Crozier, Reina

Continue reading

Alumni Spotlight – Grace Von Lehman

In her role as Central Indiana Outreach Coordinator at Faith in Place, MAWRD alum Grace Von Lehman is able to apply her knowledge gained from completing the MAWRD program in tandem with the SWAN certificate. Even though she graduated less than a year ago, Grace is breaking barriers through environmental justice work in Indianapolis, Indiana. The organization she works for, Faith in Place, has been operating in Illinois for more than two decades, but its presence in Indiana only sprang up a couple of years ago, giving Grace the role of first outreach staff member in Indianapolis. Faith in Place works

Continue reading

Course Spotlight – WRD 282: Ethics of Public and Professional Writing

Ever faced an ethical dilemma when writing? Dr. Jason Schneider’s WRD 282: Ethics of Public and Professional Writing seeks to unpack the power of ethics within workplace writing and beyond. In this brand-new course, students will get to explore ethical implications within public and professional writing that can be applied to all types of real-world experiences, whether in the workplace or elsewhere. Here, Dr. Schneider provides insight into what students might expect when taking this course during the upcoming Autumn Quarter 2025.   What are your goals for the course and what can students hope to learn?     I think we

Continue reading

Course Spotlight – WRD 377 Writing and Social Engagement: Women of Graceland

Graceland Cemetery is a Chicago landmark and arboretum that has acted as the final resting place for many prominent Chicagoans since 1860. Although it is a gateway into Chicago history, Graceland disproportionately highlights the men buried there through a variety of monuments. Dr. Julie Bokser is on a mission to address this disparity through WRD 377 Writing & Social Engagement: Women of Graceland. In Autumn Quarter 2025, students will have the opportunity to explore the beloved landmark through scholarship and research that uplifts and honors the women who have been laid to rest in Graceland. With insights provided by Dr.

Continue reading

Alumni Spotlight – Madeline Crozier

MAWRD alumni and current PHD candidate Madeline Crozier started working in DePaul’s Writing Center in 2017 as an undergraduate student and garnered a sense of purpose that she has taken with her throughout her career. During her time at DePaul, she found an understanding of the power of mission minded work and scholarship. “I found [at the Writing Center] shared values, beliefs, a core understanding of learning, and a sense of shared mission.”  Through her current role as the Graduate Assistant Director of the Writing Center at the University of Tennessee (UT), MAWRD alum Madeline Crozier is fulfilling a sense

Continue reading

Course Recap – WRD 532: Content Strategy

This past quarter, Dr. Lisa Dush taught WRD 532 Content Strategy, where students were able to practice applying content strategies in a professional setting. Students and Dr. Dush partnered with Just DePaul, a sustainability collective who is seeking to further the mission of social and environmental justice. Through assessing Just DePaul’s content and collaborating with each other, Students created a report of practical documentation and deliverables to be applied to current and future content on Just DePaul’s website and social media pages.  Leo Swearingen and Shane Zimmer, who both took the class and are now in their last quarter of

Continue reading

Student Spotlight – Tabitha Jou Yi

Spring offers the excitement of defrosting from Winter Quarter and the joy of new beginnings, especially for those graduating in June. Tabitha Jou Yi is a MAWRD student who is experiencing just that.  Tabitha is currently a full-time high school English teacher who started the MAWRD Program in 2023. After completing her undergraduate degree, Tabitha began her secondary education career after a short break to pursue music. She has since had a primary focus of teaching English Literature classes, and she had her first taste of rhetoric in teaching AP Language and Composition. Additionally, she was seeking an endorsement in

Continue reading

Course Spotlight – WRD 288: Rhetoric and Popular Culture

*Originally posted by Leo Swearingen in Winter Quarter, 2024, with edits made to apply to Dr. Elliott’s iteration in the upcoming Spring Quarter 2025. At the intersection of The Avengers and Aristotle, WRD 288 Rhetoric & Popular Culture emerges to explore how pop culture shapes and is shaped by the art of persuasion. Taught this Spring Quarter by Dr. Timothy Elliott, this course is your ticket to entertainment and enlightenment in one. Read on to hear from Dr. Elliott and learn more about what the course entails. Are there any specific artifacts or events in pop culture the class will be taking a look

Continue reading

Course Spotlight – WRD 377: Writing and Social Engagement: From Hip Hop To Hashtags

This upcoming spring quarter, Professor Ames Hoffner is teaching WRD 377 Writing and Social Engagement: From Hip Hop to Hashtags. This course is a part of the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program, a program where students have the opportunity to engage in open collaboration and dialogue with incarcerated students at Cook County Jail. Over the quarter, DePaul students will consider incarcerated students their peers, while entering thoughtful discussions about social engagement as it pertains to ongoing, social issues.   Each week, “outside” DePaul students will learn alongside “inside” students. This course is largely discussion-based, so all students will be able to

Continue reading

Course Spotlight – WRD 511: Rhetorics of Displacement

In the upcoming Spring Quarter, Dr. Monica Reyes will be exploring counterstories and how, as rhetors, students can shift their perspective from harmful narratives. With a focus on the stories of immigrants and refugees, WRD 511: Rhetorics of Displacement focuses on pushing back against stereotypical, limiting language surrounding these communities. While learning how to move away from the ‘helpless’ immigrant and refugee narrative, students will discover how to critically and empathetically amplify the true experiences of these groups.  What is a Counterstory?   Influenced by cultural rhetorician Aja Martinez’s concept of the counterstory, Dr. Reyes explains that “Martinez’s description of counterstory

Continue reading