Student & Alumni News

April 10, 2024 Grace Von Lehman

Alumni Spotlight: Kristin Fleming

MAWRD alumna Kristin Fleming (’22) spent her time in WRD strengthening specific writing skills while enjoying a range of courses in rhetoric as well. Today, Kristin works as a Senior Medical Writer, where she is able to combine her interests for technical writing and science. Read on to learn more about Kristin’s time at DePaul, and how MAWRD prepared her for her current and future career moves. Why did you decide to pursue a degree in WRD? I wanted to pursue a degree in writing that strengthened my technical skills while also indulging in my love of theory. I had

March 12, 2024 Leo Swearingen

Spring Break Reading Recommendations

With Spring Break on the horizon and Winter Quarter nearly behind us, it’s a better time than ever to look out for reading that invigorates the soul and keeps you excited for upcoming Spring Quarter classes. We heard from 5 MAWRD students and got their reading recommendations for you to enjoy during your Spring Break! The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man’s Love Affair with Nature by J. Drew Lanham — Recommended by MAWRD GA Grace Von Lehman This is a powerful, reverent reflection on being intimately curious about nature and understanding human life as an element of nature

March 8, 2024 Grace Von Lehman

Event Recap: WRD Internship Information Session, Winter 2024

On February 14, the WRD Department’s Student Community Committee hosted an internship information session to help students navigate finding, funding, and making the most of internship experiences. Current undergraduate student Miranda Kincer, MAWRD alumna Natalie Toth, and Professor Lisa Dush shared about their own experiences being, hiring, and advising interns (respectively). Each offered advice for current WRD students looking to incorporate internship experience in their academic journeys. The Panelists Miranda Kincer, BA ‘24, is a Research Assistant Intern at the Chicago History Museum, where she is working with a curatorial team to write, format, and present a special exhibit on

February 22, 2024 Leo Swearingen

Student Spotlight — Miranda Kincer and Creating Knowledge

Throughout 2023, WRD student Miranda Kincer worked on and published scholarship in DePaul’s undergraduate journal, Creating Knowledge. Her piece, “Tony Stark as an Icon for Alcoholism and Recovery: How Details in Iron Man #182 Reveal the Detriment of Alcohol Addiction” won out in the competitive landscape of student works, where only one piece is published per university department. Representing WRD, Miranda reflects on her time before, during, and after publication. Read on to hear about Miranda’s experience of publication and gain insights into how and why you might publish work as well. What inspired you to write this piece and

February 21, 2024 Grace Von Lehman

Spotlight on WRD’s Minor in Professional Writing

Students in any major at DePaul can enroll in the WRD department’s Minor in Professional Writing, which can be completed in fully online, in-person, and hybrid formats. This minor offers students opportunities to hone their workplace writing skills through real-world writing tasks that emphasize clear communication, strategic efficiency, and authentic collaboration. Read on to explore how a Minor in Professional Writing may be the perfect complement to your degree! Why minor in Professional Writing? With only two required courses and four electives, the Professional Writing Minor allows you the flexibility to cater the coursework to your interests. While it draws on

January 16, 2024 Grace Von Lehman

Student Spotlight: Christian Woodley

For students and faculty at all levels, conferences offer the opportunity to present scholarship, learn about others’ work, and connect with fellow scholars. Recently, MAWRD student Christian Woodley presented original work at the National Communication Association Annual Convention held in Washington, D.C. His research, which he presented as part of a panel on business communication, focused on the various ways online meetings impact interpersonal dynamics. Beyond his presentation, Christian connected with scholars, explored the city, and gained perspective on academic conferences more broadly. Read on to hear more about Christian’s experience and his advice to students considering similar opportunities! Grace

November 9, 2023 Grace Von Lehman

Event Recap: National Day on Writing 2023

Each year, October 20 marks National Day on Writing. This year, WRD teamed up with the Writing Center to celebrate, while starting conversations on campus about the writing we each do in our everyday lives. This celebration was established by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) “to draw attention to the remarkable variety of writing Americans engage in and to help make writers from all walks of life aware of their craft.” On October 19, WRD students and faculty as well as Writing Center staff hosted a three-hour tabling event in Arts and Letters Hall on DePaul’s Lincoln Park

October 31, 2023 Leo Swearingen

Student Spotlight: Nan Denette

This October, MAWRD student Nan Denette presented at a conference at the University of Memphis, discussing her findings on how we can use existential rhetoric to more effectively combat climate change. Learn more about her fascinating work through this exclusive interview, where she discusses not just her research but her experience presenting. What topic did you present on and what inspired you to present on it? My presentation was titled “Anthropos & Anthropocene: Existential Rhetorics in the Age of Ecological Disaster.” I focused on two fictional texts—Paradise Lost by John Milton and White Noise by Don DeLillo. Paradise Lost narrates

October 24, 2023 Leo Swearingen

A Closer Look: Updates from the WRD Equity Committee

In the aftermath of the 2020 killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Tony McDade at the hands of the police, a collective cry for action resonated within the Writing, Rhetoric, & Discourse Department. Motivated by a poignant letter written by concerned students and alumni, the WRD department was called upon to actively champion diversity, equity, and inclusion. This compelling call to action culminated in the establishment of the WRD Equity Committee. The Committee’s Goals: Since its inception, the Equity Committee has emerged with a series of goals aimed at transforming the WRD department’s approach to antiracism and inclusivity. Some of

September 28, 2023 Grace Von Lehman

Introducing MAWRD’s Newest Cohort – Autumn 2023

This quarter, MAWRD welcomes seven new students from diverse academic and professional backgrounds. Take a moment to get to know each student in their own words! Eryk Markiewicz is a first-year student in the MAWRD program. He is currently working at the DePaul Writing Center and also does some work at a bakery near his house. He has lived in Chicago basically his whole life, and he does a lot of writing and music spamming on his Instagram story. Maya Muschitz is a first-year MAWRD student as well as the Communications Writer/Scholarship & Events Administrator for the DePaul College of